Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Friday, February 27, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Friday, February 27, 2026
US consular services pop-up opens its doors in Efrat settlement
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Kayla Friedson, center, and her mother wait for their turn to receive consular services from US embassy officials in the Efrat settlement in the West Bank, Feb.27, 2026. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)
The US opens its first pop-up providing consulate services in a West Bank settlement today, setting up shop in Efrat.
Photos show Mark Marrano, the official coordinator for American Citizen Services at the US Embassy, stationed at the pop-up, which appears to be held in the basketball court of a local school.
The pop-up, offering passport applications and renewals to local residents, was welcomed by Israel’s government and criticized by the Palestinian Authority.
The US says a pop-up event will also be held in the Haredi settlement of Beitar Illit and the Palestinian city of Ramallah, as well as in Haifa, Jerusalem, Netanya and Beit Shemesh.
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