The U.S. State Department announced it would deny entry visas to Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization officials ahead of the United Nations General Assembly scheduled to begin on 22 September. The department cited multiple reasons for the decision, stating that the Palestinian organizations had not fulfilled previous commitments and were engaged in activities that run counter to peace initiatives. Specific allegations included efforts to internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through proceedings at the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, as well as what the department characterized as glorification of terrorism.
The State Department statement indicated that visa sanctions against PLO members and PA officials would continue as a consequence of what it described as a failure to reform and ongoing actions that diminish prospects for peace. This marks the second consecutive year that the Trump administration has prevented the Palestinian delegation from attending the UN General Assembly in person. Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, is among those barred from entering the United States.
The Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry rejected the State Department’s characterization on Thursday, calling the visa sanctions an unjustified action. In its response, the PA described the measure as contradicting efforts to rebuild confidence between the two parties and to develop relations between the Palestinian and U.S. governments. The ministry stated that such steps were incompatible with establishing the political conditions necessary for implementing a two-state solution and achieving regional peace and stability.
According to reports and UN officials, the General Assembly is expected to vote on a resolution that would permit Abbas to deliver remarks to the gathering remotely, similar to his participation the previous year through video conference.
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