The United States has denied Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas an entry visa to attend the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The decision means Abbas will be unable to travel to the US for the annual gathering of world leaders, marking the second consecutive year that Washington has denied him a visa to attend the UN meeting in person.
The US State Department has also extended visa restrictions affecting officials of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
According to US authorities, the restrictions are linked to what Washington described as the Palestinian leadership’s failure to meet previous commitments, including actions it says seek to internationalise the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through international legal institutions.
US officials also cited concerns over the Palestinian Authority’s policies and actions relating to peace efforts with Israel.
The visa decision affects more than Abbas, with other Palestinian officials who had planned to travel to New York also reportedly denied entry.
The Palestinian leadership has criticised the move, arguing that it undermines diplomatic engagement and Palestinian efforts at the United Nations.
Despite the US decision, Palestinian representation at the UN will continue through accredited diplomats. The General Assembly is expected to consider arrangements that would allow Abbas to address the gathering by video, as he did the previous year.
The dispute comes amid continuing international diplomatic efforts over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and renewed attention on the role of the United Nations in addressing the conflict.
The annual UN General Assembly is scheduled to bring together world leaders in New York next week, with the conflict expected to remain among the major issues under discussion.
