EU urges US to reconsider visa refusal for Palestinian delegation — ABC News Australia
The European Union has urged the United States to reconsider its decision not to issue visas to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and other members of the delegation who were due to travel to New York for the UN General Assembly. This was reported by ABC News Australia.
The European Union’s call
EU diplomatic service spokesperson Anouar El Anoui said that the European Union regretted Washington’s decision and was asking it to reconsider. He referred to existing US agreements with the UN and the United States’ obligations as the host country of the organization’s headquarters.
The US State Department said it would not issue visas to Abbas and other delegation members ahead of the meeting, which is due to begin on Tuesday. Under the current conditions, only members of the Palestinian mission to the UN will be able to participate in the events.
Abbas’ online participation
The administration of US President Donald Trump also did not issue visas to the Palestinian delegation last year. Abbas, who regularly takes part in the General Assembly’s work, then addressed its participants via video link.
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On Thursday, the General Assembly approved, by 152 votes to three, the possibility for Abbas to speak remotely again this year. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also expressed regret on Friday over the US decision and said he was concerned about its impact on the full participation of the State of Palestine in the UN’s work.
Washington’s position
The State Department said that the United States objected to Palestinian actions to internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including through the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, as well as to efforts to secure unilateral recognition. The American side also accused the Palestinians of continuing payments to people it called terrorists and of glorifying attacks and their perpetrators in public statements and school textbooks.
According to ABC News Australia, the Palestinian Authority recently changed its social benefits system: they are provided based on families’ needs rather than political affiliation or prisoner status. The United States differs in its position from 142 UN member states that recognized the Palestinian state in the organization last year.
