The US has again denied Mahmoud Abbas a visa for the UN General Assembly, prompting Palestinian condemnation and raising fresh questions over diplomatic access, reports Asian Lite News Desk
The United States has denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a visa to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York for a second consecutive year, preventing him from addressing world leaders in person at next week’s annual meeting.
The decision follows Washington’s extension of visa sanctions against Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, with the US accusing the two bodies of failing to meet commitments linked to the peace process.
The State Department has criticised Palestinian efforts to pursue the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through international institutions and has accused the PA and PLO of failing to meet obligations under US legislation governing their relationship with Washington.
The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the latest visa restrictions as an “unjustified measure”, saying they ran counter to efforts to rebuild trust between the US and Palestinians and to create conditions for a two-state solution.
The dispute centres on Washington’s decision to prevent Abbas and other Palestinian officials from travelling to the US for the General Assembly, despite the United States hosting the United Nations headquarters.
The UN Headquarters Agreement generally requires the US to facilitate access to the UN district for representatives attending official business. Washington, however, has maintained that its obligations allow restrictions in certain circumstances, including on security and foreign policy grounds.
The issue is not new. The US imposed similar visa restrictions on Palestinian officials ahead of last year’s General Assembly. Abbas was unable to travel to New York and instead delivered his address to the assembly by video.
The General Assembly is expected to consider whether Abbas will again be permitted to address the meeting remotely this year.
The Palestinian Authority has rejected accusations that its international diplomatic and legal efforts violate its commitments, arguing that it has the right to pursue accountability through international institutions.
The US decision comes amid wider tensions over Washington’s policy towards the Palestinians under President Donald Trump. The administration has taken a harder line on Palestinian diplomatic initiatives and has opposed efforts that it considers attempts to internationalise the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Palestine currently holds non-member observer state status at the United Nations and is recognised by a large majority of UN member states. It has sought full UN membership, but the United States has opposed its admission as a full member.
The visa dispute also highlights the diplomatic significance of the annual General Assembly, where Palestinian leaders have traditionally used the gathering to present their position on statehood, the conflict with Israel and the push for a two-state settlement.
Abbas’s absence means the Palestinian leadership will again have to rely on a remote address or another representative if the restrictions remain in place.
The Palestinian foreign ministry said the decision could undermine efforts towards a political settlement, while Washington maintains that its visa restrictions are linked to its assessment of Palestinian compliance with existing commitments.
