US bars Abbas, PA officials from UN summit, sparks EU backlash
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The visa ban has drawn sharp criticism from the EU, which urged Washington to reverse course.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Thursday, Sept 26, 2024, at UN headquarters (AP)
The United States has refused to grant visas to approximately 80 Palestinian Authority officials, including President Mahmoud Abbas, preventing them from attending next month's UN General Assembly. The decision has triggered immediate criticism from European Union leaders who are demanding Washington reverse course.
A State Department official confirmed Saturday that "Abbas is affected by this action along with approximately 80 other PA officials," following the surprising announcement made Friday.
The move represents a significant departure from standard diplomatic protocol for UN meetings and aligns the Trump administration closely with "Israel's" government as it continues its military operations in Gaza.
The 89-year-old Palestinian Authority president, who previously maintained cordial relations with Washington, had been scheduled to attend the gathering of world leaders in New York.
EU calls for policy reversal
Following a meeting of European foreign ministers in Copenhagen, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas strongly criticized the American decision. "In the light of the existing agreements between the UN and its host state, we all urge for this decision to be reconsidered," Kallas stated, citing international law as grounds for Washington to reverse its position.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot led the criticism ahead of the Denmark discussions. "A UN General Assembly meeting should not be subject to any restrictions on access," Barrot told reporters. Multiple European ministers in Copenhagen supported France's appeal for the United States to permit access to the Palestinian delegation.
Violation of UN hosting obligations
The visa denials challenge established international agreements governing the United Nations headquarters. Under the arrangement that designates New York as the UN's home, the United States typically cannot refuse entry visas for officials traveling to the world body.
Historically, activist groups have pressed Washington to deny visas to leaders from countries they oppose over human rights violations, but such requests are almost invariably rejected.
The Palestinian Authority has condemned the American action, stating it "stands in clear contradiction to international law and the UN Headquarters Agreement." Palestinian officials have called for the United States to immediately reverse its decision and allow their delegation to participate in the General Assembly.
Context of Palestinian statehood push
The visa controversy unfolds as France spearheads efforts to secure recognition for a Palestinian state during the upcoming UN General Assembly session in September. This initiative has drawn accusations from both the United States and "Israel" that such recognition would "reward Hamas".
"Israel" vehemently opposes Palestinian statehood. The Israeli government argues that international recognition efforts effectively reward "terrorist actions".
Several Western nations have shown support for Palestinian recognition. Canada and Australia have announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state, while Britain has threatened to do so unless "Israel" agrees to implement a ceasefire in Gaza.
