U.S. blocks Palestinian president from attending UN General Assembly
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Trump with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 2017. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty
The Trump administration announced Friday that it won't issue visas to senior Palestinian officials who wish to travel to New York to attend the UN General Assembly in September, and will revoke visas that were previously granted.
- A State Department official confirmed that applied to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and around 80 additional officials.
Why it matters: The U.S. move comes in response to a planned initiative by several Western countries to recognize a Palestinian state during the annual global gathering. It underscores that on policy toward Gaza and the Palestinians more generally, it is the U.S. and Israel vs. nearly all the rest of the world.
Driving the news: Banning Abbas from attending next month's assembly is an unprecedented step.
- According to its host country agreement with the UN, the U.S. government is obligated to allow delegations from around the world to visit New York to participate in the General Assembly.
- The UN recognizes Palestine as an observer state, not a full member. Several countries, including France, the U.K., Canada and Australia, plan to join the nearly 150 countries that already recognize Palestine.
- The Palestinian presidency said in a statement that it "deeply regrets" the decision, which "stands in clear contradiction to international law and the UN Headquarters Agreement," and called on the U.S. to reconsider.
What they're saying: The State Department said the decision is based on the Palestinian Authority's failure to clearly condemn the Oct. 7 attack, alleged incitement to terrorism in its education system, and its international lobbying for international recognition.
- Contrary to the U.S. claim, Abbas did condemn the Oct. 7 attack in an official letter sent to French President Emmanuel Macron a few weeks ago.
- Another reason cited for the decision is the PA's "lawfare" campaigns against Israel in the international arena. One prominent example is the effort to prosecute Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza.
- "The PA Mission to the UN will receive waivers per the UN Headquarters Agreement. The U.S. remains open to re-engagement that is consistent with our laws, should the PA/PLO meet their obligations and demonstrably take concrete steps to return to a constructive path of compromise and peaceful coexistence with the State of Israel," the State Department said.
Split screen: Possibly the most prominent debate during the General Assembly will be over recognition of Palestine.
- Sources say the Trump administration is attempting to deter Abbas from issuing a "declaration of independence" during his speech to the assembly — a step the Palestinians are considering.
- The issue came up during a meeting between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday.
- According to a source familiar with the details, Sa'ar encouraged Rubio to block visas for the Palestinian delegation.
- After the announcement, Sa'ar thanked Trump and Rubio "for holding the PLO and PA accountable for rewarding terrorism, incitement and efforts to use legal warfare against Israel."
Flashback: In the past, the U.S. limited the movements of foreign officials from Russia, Iran, North Korea and other countries inside Manhattan during the General Assembly but didn't bar them completely.
- In the 1980s, the U.S. refused to issue a visa to then-PLO Chair Yasser Arafat to attend the meeting.
- This was before the Palestinian Authority was established and when the international status of the Palestinian leadership was significantly lower.
- At the time, the U.S. decision led the UN to move the General Assembly meeting from New York to Geneva.
What to watch: A senior Palestinian official said that the meaning of the U.S. decision is still unclear, and the Palestinian Authority has not received any official notification of visa cancellations.
- According to the Palestinian official, the PA was aware of this possibility and discussed it a few weeks ago with the office of the UN secretary-general.
This story was updated with confirmation that Abbas wont won't be allowed to attend.
