UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “deeply regrets” Washington’s decision to deny Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a visa for the second consecutive year, preventing him from attending next week’s UN General Assembly, his spokesperson has said.
“The Secretary-General is concerned about the impact of this decision on the ability of the State of Palestine to participate fully in the work of the United Nations,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Friday.
“The full participation of all delegations in the work of the Organization is essential to its proper functioning,” he added.
The US State Department said on Thursday that it was refusing visas to Abbas and other Palestinian officials for the assembly, which begins on Tuesday. Members of the Palestinian mission to the UN will still be able to attend.
Guterres continued to urge the US, as host country, “to ensure that visas are issued to all delegations in accordance with its obligations”, Dujarric said.
The Trump administration also denied visas to the Palestinian delegation last year, forcing Abbas, a regular participant in the General Assembly, to address the body by video.
The General Assembly voted 152-3 on Thursday to allow Abbas to appear virtually again this year.
Washington cites Palestinian actions
The State Department said its decision was linked to Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization actions that Washington said failed to meet its commitments under US law.
Washington also cited Palestinian efforts to “internationalise the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”, including through the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, and attempts to seek recognition of a Palestinian state outside negotiations.
The US has also objected to the Palestinian Authority’s previous system of payments to families of imprisoned or killed Palestinians, including those who carried out attacks against Israelis. The PA has since reformed the system to base welfare payments on need rather than political affiliation or prisoner status.
The United States is at odds with 142 UN member states that recognised a Palestinian state at the United Nations last year.
