Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City Sept. 26, 2024. (UN Photo: Loey Felipe) 

By Gary Raynaldo    –  DIPLOMATIC TIMES

The United States on Friday barred Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from attending the annual UN General Assembly session in New York next month. The action comes as several US allies are set to recognize Palestine as a state. In addition to Abbas, 80 other Palestinian officials had their visas revoked by the US. Meanwhile, Britain, France, Australia and Canada are planning to formally recognize a Palestinian state at the high level General Assembly meeting.   

“It is in our national security interests to hold the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) and PA (Palestinian Authority) accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace,” the State Department said in a statement. “Before the PLO and PA can be considered partners for peace, they must consistently repudiate terrorism — including the October 7 massacre — and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by U.S. law and as promised by the PLO.”

Abbas has addressed several UNGA meetings in the past. Abbas’ office urged the US to reverse its decision. It argues that the action is in “clear contradiction to international law” and the UN Headquarters Agreement which requires the host country to allow access for diplomats to the UN. France is leading international efforts to recognize a state of Palestine at the UN session, which has been opposed by the U.S. and Israel. France says the US should not restrict access to the UN session next month. France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot “deplored” the unusual  visa restrictions. “With my European colleagues, I deplore the revocation of visas for representatives of the Palestinian Authority and the PLO ahead of the UN General Assembly,” the foreign minister said in a statement posted on social media platform X. “The UN headquarters is a sanctuary in the service of peace: it cannot tolerate any restrictions on access.”

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the world body would discuss the issue with the State Department with regard to the UN Headquarters Agreement between the UN and the US.  “It is important that all Member States, permanent observers, be able to be represented,” Dujarric said.