In a surprising move, the United States announced it has denied visas for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and about 80 other members of the PLO and the Palestinian Authority, blocking their travel to New York for the annual UN General Assembly.
Abbas was set to join a France- and Saudi Arabia–hosted summit where the UK, France, Australia and Canada plan to formally recognize Palestine as a state. His office called the decision astonishing and said it breaches the UN headquarters agreement, which generally guarantees foreign diplomats access to UN headquarters in Manhattan.
The State Department justified the move on grounds of security, extremism concerns and resistance to the Palestinians’ push for unilateral recognition. Palestinian officials reject these claims, arguing that decades of U.S.-mediated talks have failed to end occupation and secure independence.
Notably, the restriction does not apply to the Palestinian Authority’s permanent mission to the UN. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the UN will consult with the State Department to uphold its obligations under the headquarters agreement.
This episode spotlights how visa policy can become a diplomatic lever in one of the world’s most enduring conflicts, raising questions about international norms, state recognition and the future of Middle East peace efforts.
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U.S. bars Palestinian President Abbas from UN meeting in New York
cgtn.com
