The Palestinian Authority on Thursday rejected the US State Department’s decision not to grant President Mahmoud Abbas a visa to attend next week’s UN General Assembly meetings in New York, for the second consecutive year.
Palestinian Foreign Ministry rejects visa decision
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the State of Palestine rejected the decision and considered it an “unjustified measure,” saying it ran counter to efforts to restore trust, develop Palestinian-American relations and create the political conditions to implement the two-state solution and achieve peace and stability in the region. The US State Department announced on Wednesday that it was extending measures barring visas for Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization ahead of the General Assembly meetings.
At the time, it said the measure was based on national security considerations and accused the Palestinian leadership of failing to honor previous commitments and “undermining the prospects for peace.” Abbas delivered his address to the General Assembly that year by video link from his office in Ramallah, after the United Nations allowed him to participate remotely.
This came as international moves linked to the two-state solution and recognition of the State of Palestine were being discussed.
Yasser Arafat was previously denied a visa
Washington had previously refused in 1988 to grant the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat a visa to attend UN meetings. The General Assembly meetings were moved to Geneva, where Arafat delivered his address.
