🚫 The U.S. has denied visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and around 80 PLO and PA members, blocking their trip to next month’s UN General Assembly in New York.
Abbas was set to join a high-level gathering of world leaders at UN headquarters and a follow-up summit hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, where the UK, France, Australia, and Canada plan to recognize a Palestinian state.
The move stunned Abbas’ office, which called it a breach of the 1947 UN headquarters agreement that guarantees diplomatic access to New York. But the U.S. cited security, extremism, and foreign policy reasons in keeping with its long-standing position.
Palestinian officials reject U.S. and Israeli claims that the PLO and PA didn’t reject extremism, arguing that decades of U.S.-backed talks have failed to end occupation and secure statehood.
A UN spokesperson said talks with the State Department are ongoing to resolve the visa dispute in line with the UN agreement.
The decision has stirred debate among news enthusiasts, professionals, and students worldwide, as the diplomatic drama unfolds ahead of the annual UNGA.
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U.S. bars Palestinian President Abbas from UN meeting in New York
cgtn.com
