France slams US over Palestinian Authority visa ban to UN summit
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France has criticized the United States for denying visas to members of the Palestinian Authority ahead of next month’s United Nations General Assembly, urging that access to the global summit remain unrestricted.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2022, at the UN headquarters. (AP)
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Saturday that no restrictions should be placed on participation in the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, following the US decision to deny visas to officials from the Palestinian Authority.
“A UN General Assembly meeting... should not be subject to any restrictions on access,” Barrot stated during a meeting of EU foreign ministers held in Denmark.
Barrot’s comments were echoed by several EU foreign ministers in Copenhagen, who urged the United States to reverse its decision and allow the Palestinian delegation to attend the summit scheduled in New York next month.
The move by Washington comes as France intensifies efforts to rally support for Palestinian state recognition at the annual gathering of world leaders.
US visa denial sparks diplomatic tensions
The United States' denial of entry marks an unusual step, further aligning the Trump administration with the Israeli government as it continues its war on Gaza. Under the UN Headquarters Agreement, the US, as the host nation, is not supposed to refuse visas for officials traveling to attend United Nations meetings.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the visa denial, saying it “stands in clear contradiction to international law and the UN Headquarters Agreement.”
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Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, who had planned to attend the General Assembly, was among the officials reportedly affected by the visa restrictions. The 89-year-old leader has previously maintained diplomatic channels with Washington, but relations have deteriorated amid "Israel's" genocidal war on Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority has urged the US to reverse its decision, calling the move politically motivated and unlawful.
