UN Assembly Approves Video Address for Abbas After US Visa Denial

The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution on Thursday allowing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to address the upcoming high-level session in New York via video link. This decision follows the United States' latest refusal to grant visas to the Palestinian delegation. The resolution passed with 152 votes in favor, three against from Israel, the U.S., and Paraguay, and four abstentions.

Mahmoud Abbas will now deliver a pre-recorded speech to the General Assembly, a measure also taken last year after a similar U.S. visa decision. The U.S. State Department announced on Wednesday the continuation of visa restrictions for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian Authority officials, citing a failure to uphold commitments to Washington. Specific grievances include the Palestinian Authority's actions against Israel in international forums, unilateral efforts to gain state recognition, and payments to terrorists and their families.

Despite the visa restrictions, the U.S. has maintained a waiver allowing Palestinian mission staff to the UN to continue their work in New York. Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, criticized the vote, stating, "As long as Abbas continues his policy of payments to terrorists and their families, he cannot expect the international community to simply ignore him." He added, "Instead of coming to New York, he will send videos. It is up to him to change this policy."

Abbas had sought to reverse the U.S. decision in recent weeks, including a request to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a visit to Ankara last month to intervene with President Donald Trump. However, the visa restrictions remained in place.