The United States has denied Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas an entry visa for next week’s UN General Assembly.
This marks the second year in a row that Abbas cannot attend the UN meeting in New York in person.
US and Palestinian officials confirmed the decision to The Times of Israel.
Abbas’s office received notice of the decision on Wednesday. Dozens of other Palestinian Authority officials also received visa denials, according to a Palestinian official.
One Palestinian official shared a notice from the US State Department. The notice cited Section 212(a)(3)(B) of US immigration law.
The section bars visas for people who have engaged in terrorist activities or had links to terrorist groups. The notice described the restriction as permanent.
However, officials have not confirmed whether the United States rejected Abbas’s application under the same section.
US Cites Palestinian Authority Policies
The US State Department said the Palestinian Authority had failed to meet its commitments to Washington.
The department also cited several US laws related to Palestinian actions.
These laws cover actions against Israel in international bodies. They also cover efforts to secure unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.
The State Department further cited payments to people whom US authorities describe as terrorists. It also referred to the glorification of violence.
Washington said it would extend visa restrictions against PLO members and Palestinian Authority officials.
At the same time, the US will keep a waiver for the Palestinian Mission to the UN. The waiver allows mission members to continue their work in New York.
Abbas Seeks Virtual UN Address
Following the visa decision, the Palestinian Mission to the UN submitted a resolution.
The resolution would allow Abbas to address the General Assembly by video.
A Western diplomat told The Times of Israel that the General Assembly would consider the proposal on Thursday.
Abbas plans to speak on September 24. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also plans to address the General Assembly that day.
Abbas used a virtual address last year after the Trump administration denied him entry to the United States.
US Maintains Visa Restrictions
The Trump administration made a similar decision last year. At the time, the move came ahead of a France-Saudi Arabia conference on the two-state solution.
No similar conference will take place this year.
Ramallah had hoped that Washington would ease its position. However, a US official told The Times of Israel last month that the administration planned to keep the restrictions.
The Palestinian Authority still submitted entry applications earlier this month.
A Palestinian official said Washington had told Ramallah that it could still submit applications.
The Palestinian side therefore applied for entry despite the expected restrictions.
The latest decision means Abbas will likely address the UN remotely again.
