The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the US government on Saturday to reverse its decision to revoke his visa, just weeks before he is scheduled to speak at the United Nations’ annual meeting and an international conference on establishing a Palestinian state.
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has revoked the visas of Abbas and 80 other officials ahead of next month’s high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, the State Department announced on Friday. Palestinian representatives assigned to the U.N. mission were granted exceptions.
The move is the latest in a series of steps taken by the Trump administration to restrict visas for Palestinians.
According to the State Department, Rubio also ordered the denial of new visa applications from Palestinian officials, including those affiliated with the Palestine Liberation Organization.
“It is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace,” according to a statement.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the visa withdrawals as a violation of the United States’ commitments as UN host country.
Abbas has been addressing the General Assembly for many years and generally leads the Palestinian delegation.
“We urge the American administration to reverse its decision. “This decision will only heighten tensions and escalation,” Palestinian presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh told The Associated Press in Ramallah on Saturday.
“We have been in contact with Arab and foreign countries since yesterday, particularly those directly affected by this issue. “This effort will continue around the clock,” he stated.
He urged other countries to apply pressure on the Trump administration to reverse its decision.
EU countries back Palestinian leader
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot expressed concern about restrictions on access to the United Nations General Assembly and promised to discuss the matter with EU counterparts.
“The United Nations headquarters is a place of neutrality, a sanctuary dedicated to peace, where conflicts are resolved,” he told reporters Saturday. “The UN General Assembly … cannot suffer any restrictions on access.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he spoke with Abbas on Saturday to express Madrid’s support for him, calling the visa denial “unjust.”
“Palestine has the right to make its voice heard at the United Nations and in all international forums,” he stated on Radio X.
