Jewish Groups in the U.S. Warn Trump That New Travel Ban Undercuts Palestinian Authority

A coalition of American Jewish organizations is urging President Donald Trump to reverse a newly announced travel restriction that effectively bars most Palestinians from entering the United States, arguing that the policy contradicts Washington’s stated role as a broker for stability and peace.

The restriction, signed on December 16, expands U.S. travel limitations to include individuals holding documents issued by the Palestinian Authority — a category that covers the vast majority of Palestinians living in the West Bank. The proclamation also applies to travelers from several African and Middle Eastern countries, further widening an already extensive system of entry bans.

In a joint letter addressed to Trump, the groups contend that cutting off Palestinian travel weakens the very governing body the United States says it wants to empower.

A Policy That Collides With Diplomatic Claims

More than three dozen countries are now affected by some form of U.S. travel restriction. For organizations invested in an eventual Israeli-Palestinian political settlement, the inclusion of Palestinian Authority documentation is particularly alarming.

The letter argues that restricting movement at this moment sends a conflicting message. While the administration has publicly emphasized the need to stabilize Gaza and prevent renewed violence, the groups say the ban undercuts those objectives by eroding the legitimacy and capacity of the Palestinian Authority.

According to the signatories, limiting access to the United States does not isolate bad actors. Instead, it blocks students, patients seeking medical care, civil society leaders, and families — all based solely on the type of documents available to them.

Who Signed the Letter

The appeal was initiated by New Jewish Narrative and co-signed by seven other organizations, including Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, J Street, the National Council of Jewish Women, New York Jewish Agenda, Partners for Progressive Israel, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, and The Workers Circle.

The letter, dated December 23, was also sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Why Palestinian Documents Matter

Palestinians living in the West Bank rely on Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents for international movement. Residents of Gaza historically accessed the same documentation, though their ability to travel has been dramatically restricted in recent years.

Following Israel’s prolonged military campaign in Gaza after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, Trump outlined a framework that envisioned the Palestinian Authority eventually assuming administrative control over the territory once the conflict ended.

The Jewish groups argue that barring PA document holders from the United States directly undermines that vision.

“You Can’t Rebuild While Closing Doors”

Hadar Susskind, president and CEO of New Jewish Narrative, said the contradiction is impossible to ignore.

“The U.S. keeps saying it wants to help rebuild Palestinian institutions and support stability,” Susskind said. “At the same time, it is making decisions that limit people’s ability to engage, study, seek care, or participate in international dialogue. Politically, that’s another blow to an already weakened authority.”

Susskind emphasized that the consequences extend beyond diplomacy, directly affecting ordinary people whose lives depend on mobility for education, medical treatment, or family reunification.

National Security or Blanket Exclusion?

Trump and senior advisers have defended the travel restrictions as necessary for national security. The president has repeatedly voiced hostility toward immigration more broadly, including statements pledging to halt migration from what he has referred to as “Third World countries.”

In August, the administration temporarily suspended approvals for visitor visas from Gaza after activist Laura Loomer publicly labeled flights carrying wounded Palestinian children — evacuated to the U.S. for medical treatment — a security risk. Loomer is widely known for her anti-Muslim activism.

Impact on Millions

The new measures, scheduled to take effect on January 1, are expected to affect approximately three million Palestinians living in the West Bank.

In their letter, the organizations warn that the policy deepens humanitarian harm without improving safety. They argue that broad restrictions based on nationality or documentation fail to address real security concerns while amplifying civilian suffering at a moment of extreme regional instability.

“This approach does nothing to advance peace,” the letter states, “and instead compounds harm to those already facing limited avenues for lawful travel and engagement.”