US denies visa to Palestinian President Abbas for UNGA

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appears on a screen as he addresses the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

The United States has extended visa restrictions on Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization, preventing President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian officials from travelling to the US ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.According to Reuters, the US state department said it had determined that the Palestinian Authority and PLO continued to engage in actions that Washington considers inconsistent with commitments made under US laws. The restrictions come ahead of the annual UN gathering, where Palestinian statehood and the Israel-Palestinian conflict are expected to remain major issues.The state department said the Palestinian leadership had continued to pursue measures against Israel through international bodies, including the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

Washington also cited efforts to secure international recognition of a Palestinian state outside negotiations with Israel.The US has previously said such actions violate commitments made by the Palestinian Authority and PLO under the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002. The administration also cited what it described as payments to individuals involved in terrorism and the glorification of terrorism.

The restrictions are tied to two US laws governing Palestinian commitments. The PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 requires Washington to assess whether the PLO is meeting commitments on recognising Israel, accepting UN resolutions and renouncing violence.The Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002 similarly requires the US to assess compliance by the PLO and Palestinian Authority with commitments made during the Oslo peace process, including resolving outstanding issues through negotiations and peaceful means.The restrictions will prevent Abbas and other affected Palestinian officials from travelling to New York for the UN General Assembly. The US imposed similar visa restrictions last year, and the latest decision extends those measures ahead of this year’s UN session.The state department said the restrictions do not apply to Palestinian officials covered by a waiver for the Palestinian Mission to the UN. The waiver allows accredited Palestinian diplomats to enter the US and participate in UN-related activities despite the broader visa restrictions.The US decision comes as the Palestinian leadership faces growing diplomatic pressure over its international campaign for recognition of statehood and legal action against Israel. Washington has repeatedly opposed efforts to pursue Palestinian statehood through international forums rather than through direct negotiations with Israel.