The United States has barred Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from attending next month's United Nations General Assembly in New York, a move that has drawn sharp criticism and raised questions about diplomatic protocols. The decision, announced by the State Department on Friday, affects Abbas and approximately 80 other Palestinians linked to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Abbas had planned to address the UN gathering, where France, Saudi Arabia, Britain, Australia, and Canada are expected to formally recognize Palestinian statehood. The Palestinian leader's office condemned the visa denial as a violation of the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement, which generally requires the U.S. to grant access to foreign diplomats attending UN events.
U.S. officials cited longstanding concerns over the PA and PLO's alleged failure to address extremism while pursuing "unilateral recognition" of a Palestinian state. Palestinian representatives rejected the claims, arguing that decades of U.S.-mediated negotiations have not resolved Israel's occupation or advanced Palestinian sovereignty.
The UN confirmed it would engage with U.S. authorities to address the visa issue under the headquarters agreement. Meanwhile, the PA's permanent UN mission in New York remains unaffected by the restrictions.
This development complicates international efforts to revive peace talks and highlights deepening divisions over Palestinian statehood ahead of a critical diplomatic summit.
