EU urges US to reconsider visa denial to Palestinian delegation for UN meeting
Summary
The European Union has urged the United States to reconsider its denial of visas to Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian delegation ahead of next week’s UN General Assembly in New York. The move has drawn renewed criticism from the UN, while tensions remain high amid escalating violence in the West Bank.
Key Points
- The European Union said it regretted Washington’s decision to deny visas to Palestinian officials for a second straight year and urged it to be reconsidered.
- The US State Department said Mahmoud Abbas and other members of the Palestinian delegation would not receive visas for the UN General Assembly in New York.
- The UN General Assembly voted 152-3 to allow Abbas to appear virtually, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the impact on Palestinian participation.
- Washington said it opposed Palestinian efforts to internationalize the conflict and cited objections to payments to families of imprisoned or slain Palestinians.
