WASHINGTON: The United States has again denied a visa to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, preventing him from travelling to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly next week.
The US State Department said it would deny visas to members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA), citing what it described as failures to meet commitments and actions that undermine prospects for peace, reports AFP.
Visa Decision Announced
The Trump administration took a similar step last year, requiring Abbas, a regular participant at the UN General Assembly, to address world leaders through a video message instead of attending in person.
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The State Department accused the PLO and PA of supporting actions at international organisations that Washington said contradicted previous commitments.
It also criticised Palestinian efforts at institutions including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as well as moves seeking international recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Diplomatic Reactions
The decision places Washington at odds with several countries, including France, which recognised a Palestinian state at the United Nations last year.
A total of 142 UN member states supported Palestinian state recognition following a conference on a two-state solution co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.
Regional Tensions
The visa decision comes amid continued violence in the occupied West Bank, where attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians have increased in recent months.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and violence in the territory has intensified since October 7, 2023.
At least 1,109 Palestinians, including fighters and civilians, have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers in the West Bank since October 2023.
The conflict has also led to a major humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the territory’s health ministry says more than 73,700 people have been killed during Israel’s military campaign. The figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.
