UN Allows Palestinian Leader Abbas to Address Assembly Remotely

The United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution on Thursday allowing Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to address the UN General Assembly next week via a pre-recorded statement. This decision comes after the United States denied Abbas and his delegation entry visas to attend the event in person, marking the second consecutive year this has occurred.

The US, Paraguay, and Israel voted against the resolution. Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, stated that as long as Abbas continues his policy of payments to terrorists and their families, he cannot expect the international community to ignore it. Danon added that the responsibility for changing this policy lies with Abbas.

The US State Department cited Palestinian activities on the international stage as a reason for the visa denial. Washington accuses the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) of attempting to internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by appealing to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, as well as promoting unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. The US administration also accused Palestinian bodies of supporting terrorism.

Concurrently, Washington announced it is extending visa restrictions on officials from the Palestinian Authority and the PLO, continuing a policy implemented before last year's UN General Assembly.