The European Union has urged the United States to reconsider its decision to deny entry visas to Palestinian officials seeking to attend next week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The US State Department said this week that it would not issue visas to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and other members of his delegation. It is the second consecutive year that Washington has denied visas to the Palestinian delegation.
“We regret the decision to extend the denial of entry visas for members of the Palestinian delegation for a second year in a row,” EU diplomatic service spokesman Anouar El Anouni said on Saturday.
He urged Washington to reconsider the decision, citing the United States’ obligations as the host country of the UN headquarters and its existing agreements with the organisation.
The decision means that only members of the Palestinian mission to the UN will be able to attend the General Assembly, which begins on Tuesday.
Last year, Abbas was unable to travel to New York and addressed the General Assembly by video. The UN General Assembly voted 152-3 on Thursday to allow him to deliver a virtual address again this year.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed regret over the US decision on Friday. He said he was concerned that the move could affect the State of Palestine’s ability to participate fully in the work of the United Nations.
US objections
Washington has cited several disagreements with the Palestinian Authority in explaining its decision.
The United States and Israel have criticised the Palestinian Authority’s former system of payments to families of Palestinians who were imprisoned or killed, including those involved in attacks against Israelis.
The Palestinian Authority has since changed the system, saying welfare payments are now based on financial need rather than political affiliation or prisoner status.
The US State Department also accused the Palestinian leadership of attempting to internationalise the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through institutions such as the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, rather than resolving disputes through negotiations.
Washington further accused the Palestinian Authority of continuing to provide payments to what it described as terrorists and of glorifying terrorism in public statements and school textbooks.
The US position puts Washington at odds with the 142 UN member states that recognised Palestine as a state at the United Nations last year.
The visa dispute comes amid continued tensions in the occupied West Bank, where violence involving Israeli settlers and Palestinians has increased in recent months.