U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs
Diplomatic mission
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (OPA), formerly the Palestinian Affairs Unit (PAU), was 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 final acting chief of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs was Lourdes Lamela.[2]
Jerusalem 9419003
| United States Office of Palestinian Affairs | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Location | Jerusalem |
| Address | 18 Agron Road Jerusalem 9419003 |
| Coordinates | 31°44′52″N 35°13′29″E |
| Website | palestinianaffairs |
History
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 was located within the same building as the Embassy in Jerusalem, but reported to the Department of State in Washington independently.[3]
The Trump administration shut down the office on May 16, 2025 and moved the handling of Palestinian affairs to the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee.[4]
