Judge Forbids U.S. to Close PLO Mission

A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the United States cannot close the Palestine Liberation Organization’s mission to the United Nations.

U.S. District Court Judge Edmund Palmieri said the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 does not require the closure of the PLO’s permanent observer mission to the United Nations, nor do the act’s provisions “impair the continued exercise of its appropriate functions.”

The decision found that the 1947 Headquarters Agreement between the United States and the United Nations establishing the world organization, considered along with past practice, “leaves no doubt that it places an obligation upon the U.S. to refrain from impairing the function” of the PLO mission.

‘Intent to Abrogate’

Judge Palmieri said that the legislative history of the Anti-Terrorism Act does “not manifest Congress’ intent to abrogate this obligation.”

He concluded that the act does not supersede the Headquarters Agreement and does not apply to the PLO mission.

However, he also found that the statute “remains a valid enactment of general application.”

The decision said that restricting PLO activity within the United States is appropriate aside from application to the U.N. mission.

In a related case, Judge Palmieri also ruled on a suit by 65 U.S. citizens and organizations attacking the constitutionality of the act.

Halting Other Activities

“It may permissibly put a halt to the operations of the PLO in the U.S. apart from the mission to the U.N.,” he said.

However, he said the act does not prohibit an information office proposed by one of the plaintiffs as long as it does not accept any money from the PLO and does not purport to act in any kind of official capacity for the PLO.

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court in March to force the PLO to close its mission under the provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The law, which took effect March 21, labeled the PLO and its affiliates a terrorist organization responsible for violence against U.S. citizens.

The law barred the PLO from operating its U.N. mission or any other office in the United States. It also barred the PLO from funding any activities in this country to further its aims.

The suit was opposed by lawyers representing the PLO and several officials and employees, claiming that U.S. courts lack jurisdiction in a matter involving an international treaty.