US Congress fights Maldives over 'Israel' travel entry ban
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Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) is penning a legislation draft that would set conditions for American aid to the Muslim-majority archipelago as a result.
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Foreign tourists arrive in a resort in the Kurumba island in Maldives, February 12, 2012. (AP)
US lawmakers are eyeing a fight with the tiny island nation of the Maldives, as they now aim to stop it from its decision to ban Israeli passport holders from entering the islands, according to Axios.
Maldives became the first country since October 7 to announce intentions to impose such a travel ban.
Earlier in December, Malaysia imposed a docking ban on all ships from an Israeli shipping cargo company, those en route to any Israeli dock, and those hoisting the occupation flag.
A source familiar with the matter notified Axios that Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) is penning a legislation draft that would set conditions for American aid to the Muslim-majority archipelago. It is worth mentioning that Gottheimer is one of the occupation's staunchest supporters and will call the legislation the Protecting Allied Travel Here (PATH) Act.
In a statement, Gottheimer said, "Taxpayer dollars shouldn't be sent to a foreign nation that has banned all Israeli citizens from traveling to their country", adding, "Not only is Israel one of our greatest democratic allies, but the Maldives' unprecedented travel ban is nothing but a blatant act of Jew hatred. They shouldn't get a cent of American dollars until they reverse course."
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Maldivians for Palestine
The Maldivian presidential office announced on Sunday that country laws will be amended to ban people holding Israeli passports from entering the archipelago, with a special committee being formed to oversee the process.
Moreover, President Mohamed Muizu will be appointing a special envoy to determine Palestinian needs and consequently establish a fundraiser to meet them called "Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine."
Last year, 11,000 Israelis traveled to the Maldives, making up 0.6% of the country's tourists.
Between 2019 and 2023, the US sent roughly $36 million in financial aid to the Maldives per data from the US Agency for International Development and the State Department.
According to the State Department, the funds are meant to "strengthen democratic institutions, civil society, fiscal transparency, maritime security, counterterrorism, and law enforcement".
The decision was first motioned in November 2023, when Maldives MP Mohamed Nasheed Abdulla submitted a proposal to amend the Immigration Act to ban those carrying Israeli passports from entering the country.
Abdulla also added that the Maldives must follow through with the ban on Israeli arrivals as the nations of the Organization for Islamic Corporation (OIC), of which the Maldives is a member, have placed a travel ban as well for the same reason.
