US Denies Palestinian Officials Access to UN General Assembly
WASHINGTON – The United States has decided to prohibit Palestinian officials and diplomats from attending the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York next month. This information comes from documents reviewed by sources.
A memo from the State Department suggests that visas for Palestinian officials, including Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, will be denied. Additionally, any visas issued prior to July 31 will be revoked.
The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the PA were found to be non-compliant with the PLO Commitment Compliance Act of 1989 (PLOCCA) and the Middle East Peace Commitment Act of 2002 (MEPCA), according to State Department findings.
“In alignment with US law and national security interests, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied and revoked visas for members of the PLO and PA leading up to the General Assembly,” the memo states.
Piggott, a spokesperson, mentioned that, “For the PA and PLO to be taken seriously as peace partners, they need to distance themselves from terrorism, cease legal pursuits at international courts, and abandon efforts for unilateral recognition by other nations.”
There are also some allowances for “pass missions” to the United Nations, which will receive exceptions as per the United Nations Headquarters Agreement.
The memo warns that the US might reconsider these sanctions if the PA and PLO make genuine efforts to engage positively. “The Trump administration will not offer rewards in response to terrorism,” it adds.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau attributed these sanctions to the actions of Palestinian leaders.
The State Department also noted that Abbas might announce a “constitutional declaration” aiming for Palestine’s independence during the assembly, with discussions scheduled from September 23 to 27.
Additionally, the memo, although sensitive, referred to a conference next month in France and Saudi Arabia about two-state solutions. It warns that this could serve as a significant propaganda win for Hamas and suggests the conference aligns the Palestinian state as the only viable outcome of ongoing conflicts in Gaza.
“This situation will limit US options during ceasefire negotiations and the postwar scenario,” the memo suggests.
This denial of visas to Palestinian officials marks the first instance where the US has applied this level of restriction on foreign delegations at the UN.
The decision follows a show of support from international leaders, including British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, for the recognition of a Palestinian state at a recent annual rally.
