Aug 29, 02:48 PM

US Denies Visas for Abbas and Palestinian Delegation Ahead of UN Assembly

The U.S. State Department said on Friday it is denying and revoking visas for members of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, including President Mahmoud Abbas, blocking them from traveling to New York for the United Nations General Assembly scheduled for September. In a written statement, the department cited U.S. sanctions laws and national-security concerns, alleging the Palestinian leadership continues to finance militants and pursue unilateral statehood moves. Visas already issued to the officials are being cancelled, while new applications will be refused, the department added. The restrictions do not apply to the Palestinian observer mission to the UN, which remains covered by waivers under the UN Headquarters Agreement. Even so, the action is expected to prevent Abbas from delivering his customary address to the annual gathering, complicating a diplomatic push by several Western governments that are weighing recognition of a Palestinian state. Friday’s step extends penalties the United States imposed in July on senior PA and PLO figures. The State Department said it could revisit the decision if the Palestinian leadership repudiates terrorism, ends payments to militants’ families and drops legal cases against Israel in international courts.