US Denies Visa to Palestinian Authority President Abbas for UN General Assembly, Sparks International Controversy
The U.S. has decided not to issue a visa for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to attend next month’s United Nations General Assembly, a move that has stirred controversy ahead of the global summit where several nations are expected to recognize a Palestinian state.
In a statement released on Friday, the State Department announced it will “deny and revoke visas” for members of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), confirming that Abbas and approximately 80 other PA officials are included in this action.
However, the PA’s Mission to the UN will be granted waivers under the UN Headquarters Agreement. This decision, though, seemingly contradicts the agreement as the United Nations recognizes Palestine as a non-member observer state.
The policy is expected to limit the attendance of Palestinian officials at the annual global summit, particularly during the ongoing conflict in Gaza and with key allies preparing to recognize a Palestinian state.
In response, the Palestinian presidency expressed “deep regret and astonishment” over the U.S.’s decision to deny visas to the Palestinian delegation participating in the UN General Assembly meetings next September. They called on the U.S. to reconsider and reverse its decision.
Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, stated that they will assess exactly how this announcement applies to their delegation and respond accordingly.
The State Department’s statement accused the PA and PLO of actions that “materially contributed” to the breakdown of Gaza ceasefire talks and Hamas’s refusal to release hostages. They emphasized the need for the PA and PLO to reject terrorism and stop pursuing unilateral recognition of a hypothetical state before they can be considered serious partners in peace.
Experts have suggested that denying visas to Palestinian officials for this critical gathering in New York does not aid diplomacy efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Israeli officials, including Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and UN Ambassador Danny Danon, have praised the move. In July, the State Department announced sanctions that would deny visas to unnamed PA and PLO officials.
The decision also appears to be a further step in punishing those involved in international tribunals’ probes of alleged crimes committed by Israel. The statement called on the PA to end its attempts to bypass negotiations through international lawfare campaigns, including appeals to the ICC and ICJ, and efforts to secure the unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state.