US Bars Palestinian Leader Abbas and 80 Others from UN Gathering
The United States has denied entry to approximately 81 Palestinians, including President Mahmoud Abbas, for the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York.
The decision by the US State Department to deny visas to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and around 80 other Palestinians for the upcoming United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York has been met with astonishment from the Palestinian side.
This move comes amid pledges from Western powers, including Britain, France, Australia, and Canada, to formally recognize a Palestinian state during a summit hosted by France and Saudi Arabia at UN headquarters.
According to a State Department official, the decision is based on longstanding allegations that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority have failed to repudiate extremism and have been pushing for 'unilateral recognition' of a Palestinian state.
The State Department emphasizes that this decision is in line with US national security interests and aims to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not fulfilling their commitments to peace.
Palestinian officials reject these allegations, stating that decades of US-mediated talks have failed to end Israeli occupation and secure an independent state of Palestine.
They argue that the visa restrictions violate the UN 'headquarters agreement,' which generally requires the US to allow access for foreign diplomats to the UN in New York.
The State Department has justified its decision by citing security, extremism, and foreign policy concerns.
The UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, stated that discussions will be held with the State Department regarding this visa issue 'in line with UN Headquarters agreement between the UN and the US.' This situation is reminiscent of 1988 when PLO leader Yasser Arafat was refused a visa.
In response, the UN General Assembly convened in Geneva to allow him to address the meeting.
The US' demand that the PA and PLO 'consistently repudiate terrorism' has been highlighted, particularly in relation to the October 2023 Hamas attack that led to Israel's war in Gaza.
Despite this, Palestinian President Abbas condemned the attack in a letter to France's president and called for the release of hostages held by the militant group.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the State Department's decision, reflecting ongoing tensions between Israel, the US, and their allies over issues such as Israeli settlement building in the West Bank and the recent assault on Gaza.
Despite these tensions, at least 147 of the 193 UN member states already recognize a Palestinian state, although Palestinians currently hold only observer status at the UN, akin to that of the Holy See (Vatican).
The recognition of a Palestinian state by Western powers is a response to frustration with Israel's actions in Gaza and concerns over Israeli settlement building.
The Palestinians seek a state encompassing the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem as its capital, while the US maintains that a Palestinian state can only be established through direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine.
This move comes amid pledges from Western powers, including Britain, France, Australia, and Canada, to formally recognize a Palestinian state during a summit hosted by France and Saudi Arabia at UN headquarters.
According to a State Department official, the decision is based on longstanding allegations that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority have failed to repudiate extremism and have been pushing for 'unilateral recognition' of a Palestinian state.
The State Department emphasizes that this decision is in line with US national security interests and aims to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not fulfilling their commitments to peace.
Palestinian officials reject these allegations, stating that decades of US-mediated talks have failed to end Israeli occupation and secure an independent state of Palestine.
They argue that the visa restrictions violate the UN 'headquarters agreement,' which generally requires the US to allow access for foreign diplomats to the UN in New York.
The State Department has justified its decision by citing security, extremism, and foreign policy concerns.
The UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, stated that discussions will be held with the State Department regarding this visa issue 'in line with UN Headquarters agreement between the UN and the US.' This situation is reminiscent of 1988 when PLO leader Yasser Arafat was refused a visa.
In response, the UN General Assembly convened in Geneva to allow him to address the meeting.
The US' demand that the PA and PLO 'consistently repudiate terrorism' has been highlighted, particularly in relation to the October 2023 Hamas attack that led to Israel's war in Gaza.
Despite this, Palestinian President Abbas condemned the attack in a letter to France's president and called for the release of hostages held by the militant group.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the State Department's decision, reflecting ongoing tensions between Israel, the US, and their allies over issues such as Israeli settlement building in the West Bank and the recent assault on Gaza.
Despite these tensions, at least 147 of the 193 UN member states already recognize a Palestinian state, although Palestinians currently hold only observer status at the UN, akin to that of the Holy See (Vatican).
The recognition of a Palestinian state by Western powers is a response to frustration with Israel's actions in Gaza and concerns over Israeli settlement building.
The Palestinians seek a state encompassing the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem as its capital, while the US maintains that a Palestinian state can only be established through direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine.
