U.S. Lawmakers Drafting Legislation to Prevent Maldives’ Ban on Israeli Passport Holders

US lawmakers are working on a bill to thwart the Maldives’ move to prohibit Israeli passport holders from entering the country.

According to US media outlet Axios, Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) is spearheading the legislative effort, intending to tie U.S. aid to Maldives with the condition that the country permits Israeli passport holders to enter. Gottheimer, a staunch supporter of Israel in Congress, is collaborating with colleagues from across the political spectrum on the proposed Protecting Allied Travel Here (PATH) Act.

Gottheimer denounced the use of taxpayer funds to support a nation that prohibits Israeli citizens from entering, condemning Maldives’ decision as an act of hostility towards Jews. He asserted that American financial assistance should be withheld until Maldives reverses its stance.

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President Mohamed Muizzu’s administration declared on Sunday that it would implement the ban following a cabinet recommendation. Additionally, Muizzu appointed a special envoy to evaluate Palestinian needs, and a fundraising campaign titled “Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine” was initiated to offer aid to Gaza.

According to statistics from the Times of Israel, nearly 11,000 Israelis visited Maldives last year, constituting 0.6% of the country’s total foreign tourist arrivals. Maldives joins 27 other predominantly Muslim countries with existing bans on Israeli passport holders.

According to reports from the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, between 2019 and 2023, the U.S. provided approximately USD36 million in financial aid to the Maldives, aimed at bolstering various aspects, including democratic institutions, civil society, fiscal transparency, maritime security, counterterrorism, and law enforcement.