NEW YORK: US denies visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and members of his delegation, preventing them from attending the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in person.
The US Department of State said the decision was linked to what it described as the failure of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) to meet commitments under US law. The department cited issues including unilateral efforts toward statehood, legal actions involving Israel and what it described as the glorification of terrorism.
The State Department said in a statement that it was in the US national interest to impose consequences on the PLO and PA over what it described as the glorification of terrorism.
US Denies Visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
The visa decision means Abbas and members of his delegation will not be able to travel to New York to participate in the General Assembly in person.
Abbas may still be able to address the UN General Assembly remotely. According to The Jerusalem Post, the United Nations is considering arrangements that could allow the Palestinian president to deliver his address virtually.
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If the remote arrangement is approved, it would be the second consecutive year that Abbas has been unable to travel to New York for the annual UN gathering.
UN General Assembly Attendance
The US decision comes ahead of the annual UN General Assembly session, where world leaders traditionally gather in New York to address international issues and present their governments’ positions.
The visa restrictions have drawn attention because of the Palestinian leadership’s participation in the UN and ongoing diplomatic discussions surrounding Palestinian statehood and relations with Israel.
The Palestinian Authority has long used international forums, including the United Nations, to present its position on Palestinian statehood and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
With Abbas potentially addressing the General Assembly remotely, the UN is expected to determine the arrangements for his participation ahead of the session.
