US denies Abbas visa as UN weighs remote participation
The UN General Assembly is expected to vote on a measure that would allow Abbas to participate remotely.
The United States has refused to grant Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas a visa for this year's United Nations General Assembly in New York, as the UN debates his potential remote participation. This is the second year in a row Abbas has been barred from traveling to New York for the assembly. Both US and Palestinian officials confirmed the visa denial, following earlier reports that the Trump administration planned to block him.
The UN General Assembly is set to vote on a measure that would permit Abbas to join remotely. The procedure might also enable other high-ranking Palestinians unable to enter the US to attend top UN events. The State Department announced it would extend visa sanctions on PLO and PA officials, citing their failure to comply with commitments under US laws and ongoing terrorist activities.
The State Department waived sanctions for PLO observers but emphasized accountability for promoting terrorism. The UN's decision mirrors a similar decision from last year, when the US denied Abbas a visa, leading to a vote that allowed him to deliver a prerecorded address. This year's vote, however, is not automatically extended and requires new authorization.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
