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U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs

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Coordinates: 31°44′52″N 35°13′29″E / 31.74778°N 35.22472°E / 31.74778; 35.22472
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United States Office of Palestinian Affairs
Map
LocationJerusalem
Address18 Agron Road
Jerusalem 9419003
Coordinates31°44′52″N 35°13′29″E / 31.74778°N 35.22472°E / 31.74778; 35.22472
AmbassadorLourdes Lamela (acting chief)
Websitepalestinianaffairs.state.gov

The U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (OPA), formerly the Palestinian Affairs Unit (PAU), is a division within the United States Department of State that is charged with contacts with the Palestinian Authority and with issues related to the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.[1] The current acting chief of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs is Lourdes Lamela.[2]

History

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On March 4, 2019, the US Consulate General in Jerusalem was closed down as part of President Trump's policy of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Palestinian affairs were transferred to the responsibility of the US Embassy in Jerusalem and placed under the newly created Palestinian Affairs Unit (PAU).

Following the US Presidential elections of 2020, US policy towards the Palestinian Authority shifted once more. On June 9, 2022, as US President Joe Biden was interested in removing relations with the Palestinian Authority from the schedule of the US Embassy in Jerusalem, he created the Office of Palestinian Affairs (OPA) within the Department of State. The office itself is located within the same building as the Embassy in Jerusalem, but reports to the Department of State in Washington independently.[3]

Chiefs

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No. Portrait Chief Term start Term end
1 Mike Hankey March 4, 2019[4][5] August 1, 2020[6]
2 George Noll August 1, 2020[7] August 24, 2024
3 Hans Wechsel August 24, 2024[8] March 31, 2025
– Lourdes Lamela
Acting 		April 1, 2025[2] Incumbent

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "U.S. Relations With Palestinian Territories - United States Department of State". U.S. Department of State. January 20, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Lourdes Lamela - U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs". U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs.
  3. ^ US Palestinian mission renamed and now reports directly to Washington
  4. ^ "Mike Hankey". U.S. Embassy in Israel. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  5. ^ Tarnopolsky, Noga. "U.S. shuts a door to diplomacy with Palestinians". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ "Consul General Mike Hankey". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India.
  7. ^ "Chief of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs George Noll". U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs. June 14, 2022. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  8. ^ "Hans Wechsel". U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs.
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