US Denies Entry Visa to Palestinian President Abbas for UN Assembly

The U.S. State Department announced on Wednesday night that it has expanded sanctions concerning entry visas for senior Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) officials. The decision stems from their "failure to implement reforms, contrary to their commitments to the U.S., and their continued activities that undermine the prospects for peace."

Sources told AFP that the U.S. refused Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, permission to attend the UN General Assembly leaders' summit in New York next week. The State Department stated it rejected visa requests from "several Palestinian Authority elements" without naming Abbas directly. According to the department, the decision was made because these individuals "again failed to meet their commitments" detailed in U.S. law.

These commitments include, among other things, attempts to bypass negotiations by seeking unilateral recognition, continuing to pay stipends to terrorists, and glorifying terrorist acts and terrorists in public statements and textbooks. Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, welcomed the decision, writing on X that the U.S. prevented Abbas from entering its territory and attending the UN General Assembly. He added that the Palestinians are now trying to circumvent the decision and allow him to send a recorded speech, stating, "Those who pay terrorists and reward terror should not be given an international platform. Period."

Abbas was also denied entry last year due to U.S. law prohibiting recognition of a Palestinian state and sanctions for payments to terrorist entities. However, he still addressed the assembly remotely via a video message.