The United States has refused to issue a visa to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, preventing him from attending next week's United Nations General Assembly in New York for a second consecutive year.
According to a source cited by Agence France-Presse (AFP), the US administration based its decision on what it described as a lack of reforms by the Palestinian Authority and actions that it says undermine prospects for peace.
In a statement, the US State Department said sanctions would remain in place against members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and officials of the Palestinian Authority, citing what it called unfulfilled commitments to the United States and continued activities that undermine peace efforts.
The AFP source confirmed that the restrictions also apply to Abbas.
Second consecutive refusal
The move follows a similar decision in 2025, when the administration also declined to grant Abbas a visa, forcing the Palestinian leader, a regular participant in the annual gathering of world leaders, to address the assembly remotely by video link.
Washington has accused the Palestinian leadership of failing to honour commitments related to efforts to restore peace in the Middle East and of taking actions aimed at internationalising the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
US officials also criticised Palestinian efforts to seek recognition and legal action through international institutions, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
US criticism of Palestinian leadership
The State Department further accused the Palestinian Authority of attempting to bypass bilateral negotiations through efforts to secure unilateral international recognition.
It also alleged that Palestinian authorities continue to provide payments to individuals convicted of security-related offences and promote messages that the United States considers supportive of terrorism.
Growing international divide
The US position contrasts with that of a growing number of countries that have recognised a Palestinian state.
Among them is France, which formally recognised Palestine at the United Nations last year.
According to the report, 142 UN member states have now recognised a Palestinian state following international diplomatic efforts aimed at advancing a two-state solution.
Decision comes amid West Bank tensions
The visa refusal comes against a backdrop of escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, where attacks involving Israeli settlers and Palestinians have intensified in recent months.
International concern over the situation has grown, although Washington has largely limited its public response to reiterating its opposition to the annexation of Palestinian territory by Israel.
The violence has increased significantly since the outbreak of the Gaza war following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
According to an AFP tally based on data from the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 1,109 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli soldiers or settlers since then.
Source: CNA
