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4. Has consideration been given to letting the office stay open until legal questions are resolved?

A.

The office remains open. The Justice Department has stated that it will take no further actions to close the office

until the courts have confirmed that the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 requires its closure.

5. What is the status of the Palestine Information Office in Washington?

A.

Has it reopened under other sponsorship?

Not to our knowledge.

Is there a court challenge on it?

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Yes. In PIO v. Shultz (D.D.C., 87-3085), the PIO challenged the legality of the Department's order directing the PIO to close. In an order dated December 3, 1987, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia upheld the Secretary's order. The PIO has appealed, and the appeal is pending before for the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (No. 87-5398).