US Denies Visa to Palestinian Leader Abbas Ahead of UN Assembly

The U.S. State Department has extended visa sanctions preventing entry into the United States for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and senior Palestinian Authority (PA) officials, effectively barring Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas from attending the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. The sanctions were imposed because the PLO and PA have "again failed to meet their commitments" under relevant U.S. laws, according to the State Department. Washington accused the Palestinian leadership of pursuing actions such as appealing to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, and promoting unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. The U.S. also cited the PA's continued payments to terrorists and glorification of terrorism through public statements and educational materials as reasons for the sanctions, stating these actions "undermine the prospects for peace."

This marks the second consecutive year the U.S. has denied Abbas a visa for the UN event. Last year, a similar U.S. decision led the UN General Assembly to approve a special resolution, passed by a vote of 145 to 5 with 6 abstentions, allowing Abbas to deliver a pre-recorded speech. The U.S. and Israel voted against that resolution, which was explicitly limited to the 80th session. This year, Palestinians and their allies are reportedly seeking not only to allow Abbas to speak remotely again but also to enable remote participation in other high-level events during the session.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, criticized Abbas following the U.S. decision, stating, "Abbas cannot continue to pay terrorists, reward the families of terrorists, and promote a culture that glorifies terror and then be surprised when the doors are closed in his face." He added, "Whoever wants to be part of the international community must first behave accordingly. You cannot reward terror with one hand and demand international legitimacy with the other."

The State Department concluded its announcement by stating, "Our national interest is to impose consequences and hold the PLO and the Palestinian Authority accountable for glorifying terrorism."