US Denies Visas to Palestinian Delegation Ahead of UN General Assembly
In an unprecedented move, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied visas to members of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), preventing them from attending next month’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. This decision, which includes PA President Mahmoud Abbas, is said to be in compliance with US laws and national security interests, citing the PA and PLO's support for terrorism and undermining peace prospects.
Background and Context
The decision comes days before the UNGA where several countries, led by France, are expected to recognize a Palestinian state as part of an effort toward a political resolution in the region. The US administration has long been aligned with Israel's government, which staunchly rejects a Palestinian state and has sought to group the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority with Hamas in Gaza.
Key Developments
The visa denial is part of a series of steps by the Trump administration targeting Palestinians with visa restrictions. The State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated that before being taken seriously as partners for peace, the PA and PLO must end their so-called 'pay for slay' payments to terrorists.
Rubio insisted that the PLO and PA must reject what they termed terrorism
and halt their legal efforts at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing these efforts of fueling Hamas’s refusal to release Israeli soldier prisoners and blocking ceasefire talks in Gaza.
Implications and Reactions
The Palestinian Authority expressed deep regret and astonishment
at the US decision, highlighting its contradiction to international law and the UN Headquarters Agreement, which stipulates that all heads of state are to be allowed to address the annual UNGA.
Palestine’s UN envoy Riyad Mansour said the visa ban threatens to bar Mahmoud Abbas from the UN assembly. The move could also complicate the planned recognition of a Palestinian state at the UNGA.
Current Status
Despite the US denial, the PA mission to the UN will still receive waivers under certain conditions, as mentioned in the internal documents reviewed by Fox News. However, the move has sparked controversy and could potentially disrupt the upcoming UNGA, which is set to become a large forum for support in creating a Palestinian state. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the recognition of the Palestinian state and the future dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.