EU Urges US to Reconsider Palestinian Visa Denial

NEW YORK: (News Desk) – The European Union on Saturday urged the United States to reconsider its decision to deny visas to Palestinian officials seeking to attend the United Nations General Assembly, expressing regret over Washington’s move for the second consecutive year.

The US State Department said this week that it would not issue visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and members of his delegation ahead of next week’s UN General Assembly session in New York.

“We regret the decision to extend the denial of entry visas for members of the Palestinian delegation for a second year in a row,” said Anouar El Anouni, a spokesman for the EU’s diplomatic service.

He called on Washington to reconsider the decision, citing the United States’ obligations as the host country and its existing headquarters agreements with the United Nations.

The Trump administration also denied visas to the Palestinian delegation last year, preventing Abbas, a regular participant in the General Assembly, from attending in person. He was instead forced to address the assembly via video.

The UN General Assembly voted 152-3 on Thursday to allow Abbas to participate virtually again this year. Under the current arrangement, only members of the Palestinian mission to the United Nations will be able to attend the session, which begins Tuesday.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed regret on Friday, saying he was concerned about the impact of the US decision on the ability of the State of Palestine to participate fully in the work of the United Nations.

Washington and Israel have long objected to the Palestinian Authority’s previous system of payments to families of Palestinians who were imprisoned or killed, including those accused of carrying out attacks against Israelis. The Palestinian Authority has recently revised the system, saying welfare payments will now be based on economic need rather than political affiliation or prisoner status.

The US State Department also cited its opposition to what it described as Palestinian efforts to “internationalize” the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through institutions including the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, as well as efforts to seek international recognition outside negotiations.

Washington has also accused the Palestinian authorities of continuing to provide stipends to what it calls terrorists and glorifying attacks and militant figures in public statements and school textbooks.

The United States remains at odds with the 142 UN member states that recognised a Palestinian state at the United Nations last year.

The visa decision comes amid heightened violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank in recent months, further intensifying international concern over the situation.