UN Allows Palestinian President Abbas to Address Assembly Via Video After US Visa Denial

The United Nations General Assembly voted on Thursday to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to deliver his address via video link for the second consecutive year during the upcoming annual summit of world leaders. This decision comes after the United States once again denied him a travel visa to enter New York.

The resolution passed with 152 votes in favor, three against, and four abstentions. It permits Abbas and other senior Palestinian officials to participate in UN meetings and conferences via video for the next year if they are prevented from traveling to the U.S.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomed the decision, thanking "all the brotherly and friendly countries that sponsored it, in addition to the countries that voted unanimously in favor." The ministry stated that the resolution "breaks the attempt to prevent Palestine's participation in the high-level segment and the General Assembly's work," affirming that the vote "confirms the presence of the Palestinian voice and the failure of attempts to silence Palestine and its cause."

The U.S. had previously announced last year that Abbas and around 80 other Palestinians would be affected by its decision to deny and revoke visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority. Washington announced on Wednesday that it had extended its visa ban. Tami Bruce, U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the UN, stated before the vote that the Palestinian Authority "must stop supporting terrorism and stop using diplomatic theater as a substitute for serious governance" if it wishes to be treated as a partner.

Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour told the General Assembly that Palestinian leaders rejected and condemned the U.S. action. The U.S. State Department, without naming specific officials, indicated it would extend visa sanctions on Palestinian officials for actions taken to "internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," including pursuing legal action against Israel in international courts. A Palestinian official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Abbas's visa was denied. Under the UN's 1947 "headquarters agreement," the U.S. is generally obligated to allow foreign diplomats entry to UN headquarters, but it reserves the right to deny visas on security, extremist, or foreign policy grounds.