US Denies Abbas Entry to UN Meeting as Allies Recognize Palestine

The United States announced on Friday that it will bar Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas from attending the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York. This decision impacts not only Abbas but also approximately 80 officials linked to the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the PA, as Washington has revoked their visas. The annual high-level assembly is scheduled for September 2024, and several US allies, including Britain, France, Australia, and Canada, are expected to formally recognize Palestine as a state during this event.

The US State Department justified its decision by citing longstanding claims that the PA and PLO have not adequately renounced extremism, while pursuing “unilateral recognition” of a Palestinian state. According to a State Department official, it is essential to hold these organizations accountable for allegedly undermining peace prospects. The PA’s mission to the UN, which includes officials permanently based in New York, is exempt from the visa restrictions.

Abbas’s office expressed astonishment at this decision, asserting that it violates the UN “headquarters agreement,” which generally requires host countries to allow access for foreign diplomats. Under the framework established in 1947, the US is typically obligated to facilitate entry for foreign officials attending UN meetings. Nevertheless, Washington maintains the right to deny visas for security and foreign policy reasons.

Historical Context and Reactions

This is not the first time the US has denied a visa to Palestinian leadership. In 1988, the US refused a visa to then-PLO leader Yasser Arafat, leading to a UN meeting being held in Geneva instead. The current situation has drawn attention to the increasing frustration among several nations regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza, which have resulted in significant civilian casualties and humanitarian crises.

In June, Abbas condemned a October 2023 attack by Hamas, calling for the release of hostages taken during the conflict. The PA’s historical pursuit of statehood in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital, remains a focal point of international diplomacy.

The State Department’s stance aligns with that of Israel, whose Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the visa denial. The US and Israel have expressed concern over the recognition pledges by Western powers, viewing them as a response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza and ongoing settlement expansions in the West Bank.

The Global Response to Palestinian Statehood

At present, at least 147 of the 193 UN member states recognize Palestine as a state. The Palestinians hold observer status at the UN, similar to the Holy See (Vatican). The US continues to assert that the establishment of a Palestinian state must occur through direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, a position that has faced criticism given the stalled peace process over many years.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric indicated that the organization would engage with the State Department regarding the visa issue, emphasizing the importance of the UN headquarters agreement. As the situation develops, the implications of this visa denial and the upcoming UN assembly will likely resonate across international diplomatic channels and impact the ongoing discourse surrounding Palestinian statehood.