UN Approves Mahmoud Abbas to Deliver Recorded Speech Amid US Sanctions

The United Nations has approved Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to deliver a recorded speech during the upcoming high-level week of the UN General Assembly. This decision comes after the United States extended visa sanctions against senior officials of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), preventing Abbas from physically attending the event in New York.

The US State Department stated that the PLO and the PA have not fulfilled their commitments, accusing them of pursuing unilateral actions in international courts, attempting to 'internationalize' the conflict, making payments to terrorists, and glorifying terrorism. This mirrors the US's actions last year, when it denied Abbas a visa, barring his physical participation.

Despite strong opposition from Israel and the US to providing Abbas a platform, the UN body approved his prerecorded statement. Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, criticized the decision, stating, "As long as he continues his policy of payments to terrorists and their families, he cannot expect the international community to ignore it. Instead of coming to New York, he will send videos. The responsibility for changing this policy lies with him."

In contrast to Abbas's remote address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York to deliver his speech in person during the General Assembly's general debate, amidst ongoing security tensions.