US Denies Abbas Visa
US Denies Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Visa Ahead of UN General Assembly
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Key Points
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Similar visa rejections were issued to dozens of Palestinian Authority officials who had planned to accompany Abbas to New York.
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Abbas reportedly sought Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s help in overturning the decision; Erdogan later raised the matter in a phone call with current President Donald Trump, but the restrictions remained in place.
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Last year’s visa denial was viewed as undermining a France- and Saudi Arabia-hosted initiative promoting a two-state solution, which coincided with the UN General Assembly’s high-level week; no comparable summit is being held this year.
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The Palestinian Mission’s proposed resolution was scheduled for consideration by the General Assembly before Abbas’s planned September 24 address, seeking to repeat his virtual appearance from the previous year.
The United States has denied Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas a visa to attend next week's UN General Assembly in New York, blocking his in-person appearance for the second straight year. France24 reported that the State Department also rejected visas for dozens of Palestinian officials planning to accompany Abbas, citing the Palestinian Authority's alleged failure to reform and actions that undermine peace.
Abbas was scheduled to address the General Assembly on September 24 alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Newsweek noted the State Department accused Palestinians of pursuing measures against Israel in international institutions, supporting payments to convicted terrorists, and glorifying violence. The Palestinian Mission is seeking UN approval for Abbas to address the assembly by video instead.
State Department Cites Terror Links and PA Reform Failures
The State Department's denial letters referenced Section 212(a)(3)(B) of U.S. immigration law, which bars individuals deemed to have engaged in terrorist activity. IJR reported that visa notices sent to some Palestinian officials cited this provision, though it remains unclear whether it applied directly to Abbas himself.
State Department officials accused the Palestinian Authority of failing to pursue genuine reforms, pursuing international measures against Israel, maintaining payments to individuals convicted of terrorism, and glorifying violence through official channels. These allegations formed the basis for rejecting the visa requests.
Abbas Sought Help From Turkish President Erdogan
Palestinian officials reportedly asked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to intervene on their behalf. Erdogan later raised the matter during a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, but the Trump administration maintained its visa restrictions despite the diplomatic push.
The visa denial marks the second consecutive year the U.S. has blocked Abbas from attending the UN General Assembly in person. Last year's rejection coincided with a France- and Saudi Arabia-hosted initiative promoting a two-state solution, though no comparable summit is planned this year.
Palestinian Mission Pursues Video Address as Alternative
The Palestinian Mission to the UN has introduced a resolution allowing Abbas to address the General Assembly by video on September 24, repeating his virtual appearance from the previous year. The General Assembly is scheduled to consider this resolution before Abbas's planned speech.
Despite the visa restrictions, the Trump administration announced it will continue allowing the Palestinian Mission to operate and maintain its offices in New York. This permits Palestinian officials to conduct diplomatic work while Abbas remains barred from entering the United States.
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