US renews visa sanctions on Palestinian officials before UN gathering

The US State Department said it would extend visa sanctions on Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization officials, accusing them of failing to meet commitments and undermining prospects for peace. AFP reported that Mahmoud Abbas was denied entry to the United States, while the UN is expected to consider allowing him to submit a video statement.

The United States will extend visa sanctions on officials from the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the State Department said on Wednesday.

The department attributed the decision to what it described as the groups’ failure to carry out commitments to Washington and their continuing activities that undermine prospects for peace. It said the PA and PLO had “once again” failed to meet those commitments, without providing further details in the statement cited by DW.

The State Department also accused the two organizations of trying to internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through proceedings involving the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. It further alleged that they continued to pay stipends to what it called terrorists. The claims were presented as the basis for extending the restrictions.

Separately, AFP reported, citing a source familiar with the case, that the United States had denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas an entry visa for the UN gathering in New York next week. The report follows a similar decision before the previous year’s General Assembly, when Washington also prevented Abbas from travelling to New York.

The restrictions raise questions about the access of Palestinian officials to the UN headquarters. Under a 1947 UN headquarters agreement, the United States is required to allow foreign diplomats access, although Washington has said visas may be denied on security, foreign-policy or extremism grounds, according to the supplied report.

The 193-member General Assembly is due to vote on Thursday on whether Abbas may deliver a video statement to the gathering, as he did the previous year. The Palestinian Authority represents Palestinians at the UN but is not a full member and cannot vote in the General Assembly. It holds observer-state status, comparable to that of the Vatican, while the source notes that several UN members, including France, recognized a Palestinian state last year.