US Blocks Palestinian Leaders from Attending UN Gathering
The US has extended visa restrictions on Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization. This move prevents President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian officials from traveling to the US ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The state department stated that it had determined the Palestinian Authority and PLO continued to engage in actions inconsistent with commitments made under US laws. These restrictions come as the annual UN gathering approaches, where Palestinian statehood and the Israel-Palestinian conflict are expected to remain major issues.
The administration cited efforts by the Palestinian leadership to pursue measures against Israel through international bodies, including the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. Washington also pointed out payments to individuals involved in terrorism and the glorification of terrorism as reasons for the restrictions.