The U.S. decision to deny visas to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and about 80 other officials is sparking protests from the PA and various European nations ahead of the UN General Assembly. The State Department’s rationale cites national security concerns related to the PA’s actions and commitments to peace, referring to a 2014 law that allows visa refusals for representatives deemed threats.
This decision raises questions about compliance with the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement, which prohibits the U.S. from restricting access to UN representatives. Historically, similar visa denials occurred; for instance, in 1988, the U.S. blocked Yasser Arafat’s visa. The Palestinian authorities are acknowledged only as non-member observers at the UN, complicating the legal standing.
The U.S. government has emphasized that all Palestinian efforts, including financial payments to prisoners, must align with anti-terrorism commitments for the PA to be recognized as a peace partner. As legal challenges related to these actions remain unresolved, it’s possible that the UN may relocate some of its sessions, similar to 1988, enabling Abbas to participate from Geneva.
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