The United States has barred Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas from attending next month's United Nations General Assembly, where multiple U.S. allies plan to formally recognize Palestinian statehood. A State Department official confirmed on Friday that visas for Abbas and approximately 80 other Palestinian officials were revoked under measures targeting the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority.
The move has drawn sharp criticism, with Abbas' office calling it a violation of the UN's 1947 headquarters agreement, which generally requires the U.S. to grant access to foreign diplomats. European Union foreign ministers and a joint Arab-Islamic ministerial committee unanimously urged Washington to reverse its decision during emergency meetings over the weekend.
Abbas had intended to address the annual UN gathering in New York, where Britain, France, Australia, and Canada are expected to announce recognition of Palestine. Over 140 UN member states already recognize Palestinian statehood, though it holds only observer status at the global body.
The U.S. maintains it can deny visas for security and foreign policy reasons, despite international appeals. The development marks a new flashpoint in decades-long diplomatic efforts to resolve Israeli-Palestinian tensions.
