The United States has again denied Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas a visa to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, preventing him from travelling to the annual gathering of world leaders in person.
The decision comes as Washington extends visa restrictions on Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) ahead of next week’s UN General Assembly. Abbas was also prevented from attending last year’s gathering in New York after the United States denied him a visa.
The US State Department said the Palestinian Authority and PLO had failed to meet commitments required by Washington. It accused the two organisations of taking actions that undermine prospects for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
The department said the restrictions were linked to Palestinian efforts to “internationalize” the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, as well as attempts to seek international recognition of a Palestinian state outside direct negotiations with Israel. Washington also accused the Palestinian leadership of backing terrorists.
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The Palestinian Authority, however, condemned the decision, arguing that the visa restrictions undermine efforts to strengthen US-Palestinian cooperation and advance a two-state peace solution.
The decision has also raised questions over the United States’ obligations as host country to the United Nations. Under the 1947 UN “headquarters agreement”, the US is generally required to allow access for foreign diplomats travelling to the UN headquarters in New York. However, Washington maintains that it can restrict entry on national-security, foreign-policy and other statutory grounds, including concerns relating to extremism.
The State Department said it would maintain an existing waiver for personnel assigned to the PLO Observer Mission to the United Nations, allowing the Palestinian mission to continue operating in New York despite the broader restrictions.
The 193-member General Assembly is expected to consider whether Abbas can deliver a video statement to the annual high-level gathering. He addressed the assembly by video last September after Washington prevented him from travelling to New York.
The latest decision comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions over Palestinian statehood and Washington’s opposition to Palestinian efforts to pursue cases against Israel through international courts.
The Palestinian Authority holds observer-state status at the United Nations and does not have voting rights in the General Assembly.
