Trump Administration Again Denies Visas for Palestinian Delegation to Attend the UN General Assembly
The State Department said the restrictions remain because Palestinian leaders pursued cases against Israel at international courts and kept paying prisoner stipends.
- On Wednesday, The State Department extended visa sanctions on Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority officials, preventing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
- Washington cited failures to meet commitments under the PLO Commitments Compliance Act and Middle East Peace Commitments Act, specifically noting Palestinian efforts at international courts and continued payments to families of terrorists.
- This marks the second consecutive year of visa denials for Abbas; member states previously adopted a resolution allowing remote participation by 145 votes to five, though that measure does not automatically carry over into the 81st session.
- United Nations Danny Danon welcomed The United States' position, criticizing Abbas by stating, "Abu Mazen cannot continue paying terrorists... and then be surprised when doors are closed to him," using the president's Arabic nickname.
- The General Assembly is expected to vote on a new measure determining if Abbas may again participate remotely, while The State Department maintains an existing visa waiver for personnel assigned to the PLO Observer Mission.
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Mahmoud Abbas is only allowed to participate in the UN General Assembly via video, because the US is again refusing him the visa. This is due to missing reforms and non-compliance with commitments.
The majority of UN members today approved the participation of the Palestinian Authority in the UN General Assembly by videoconference, after the United States denied the visa to its President, Mahmoud Abbas, and his Government.
The United Nations General Assembly allowed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the world leaders' meeting the following week via video link after the United States had denied him a second consecutive visa to travel to New York.
US State Department must reverse decision to ban Palestine delegation from attending UNGA session in New York
Responding to the US State Department’s announcement in a statement yesterday that it has, for the second consecutive year, barred the high-level delegation of the State of Palestine, including Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, from attending the UN General Assembly in New York, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns, Erika Guevara Rosas […]
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