Palestinian President's Office Urges US to Reinstate His Visa Ahead of Key UN Meetings
The Palestinian President's office calls on the U.S. government to reverse its decision to revoke Mahmoud Abbas' visa, ahead of upcoming meetings at the United Nations.
RAMALLAH: The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has urged the U.S. government to reinstate his revoked visa, weeks before he is scheduled to appear at the U.N.'s main annual meeting and an international conference focused on creating a Palestinian state.U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio rescinded the visas of Abbas and approximately 80 other officials in anticipation of next month's annual high-level meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, as reported by the U.S. State Department on Friday.
Abbas has been a consistent presence at the General Assembly, leading the Palestinian delegation.The Palestinian presidential spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, expressed concern over the decision, stating that it will only contribute to increased tension and escalation.
Efforts are reportedly underway to contact Arab and foreign countries for support in reversing this decision, particularly those involved in organizing an international conference on September 22 aimed at reviving efforts towards a two-state solution for the Middle East.
The conference is co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has also voiced his protest against restrictions on access to the U.N. General Assembly.
He intends to discuss this issue with EU counterparts, emphasizing that the United Nations headquarters should maintain neutrality and serve as a sanctuary for peace resolutions.Abu Rudeineh further condemned Israel's ongoing military actions in Gaza and the West Bank, arguing that these actions impede finding a solution to the ongoing conflict.
The Israeli military has designated Gaza City as a combat zone, citing its control as a stronghold of Hamas.The U.S. administration's recent moves against Palestinians, including visa restrictions, have been justified as measures necessary for national security interests.
According to the State Department, these actions are aimed at holding the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian Authority (PA) accountable for not adhering to their commitments and undermining peace prospects.The Palestinian Authority has denounced the visa revocations as a violation of U.S. obligations as the host country of the United Nations.
A U.N. spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, confirmed that the organization will seek clarification from the State Department regarding this matter.
Abbas has been a consistent presence at the General Assembly, leading the Palestinian delegation.The Palestinian presidential spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, expressed concern over the decision, stating that it will only contribute to increased tension and escalation.
Efforts are reportedly underway to contact Arab and foreign countries for support in reversing this decision, particularly those involved in organizing an international conference on September 22 aimed at reviving efforts towards a two-state solution for the Middle East.
The conference is co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has also voiced his protest against restrictions on access to the U.N. General Assembly.
He intends to discuss this issue with EU counterparts, emphasizing that the United Nations headquarters should maintain neutrality and serve as a sanctuary for peace resolutions.Abu Rudeineh further condemned Israel's ongoing military actions in Gaza and the West Bank, arguing that these actions impede finding a solution to the ongoing conflict.
The Israeli military has designated Gaza City as a combat zone, citing its control as a stronghold of Hamas.The U.S. administration's recent moves against Palestinians, including visa restrictions, have been justified as measures necessary for national security interests.
According to the State Department, these actions are aimed at holding the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian Authority (PA) accountable for not adhering to their commitments and undermining peace prospects.The Palestinian Authority has denounced the visa revocations as a violation of U.S. obligations as the host country of the United Nations.
A U.N. spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, confirmed that the organization will seek clarification from the State Department regarding this matter.
