For the second consecutive year, the United States prevents Mahmoud Abbas from attending the United Nations General Assembly

Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, has faced visa issuance obstacles from the U.S. government for the second consecutive year to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The U.S. State Department has announced that visa restrictions for officials of the Palestinian Authority and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization have been extended.

Reasons for Visa Restrictions

The Washington government has linked this decision to what it calls "failure to meet commitments in the peace process." Among the criticisms from the U.S. are actions such as Palestinians' referrals to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, and efforts to expand the recognition of the state of Palestine. The previous U.S. administration, led by Donald Trump, described these actions as "internationalizing the conflict" and circumventing direct negotiations.

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Last year, the U.S. also refused to issue a visa for Mahmoud Abbas and dozens of Palestinian officials, forcing the President of the Palestinian Authority to deliver his speech at the General Assembly via video. Given the current circumstances, it is expected that his presence at this year's meeting in New York will be similarly restricted.

Increased International Support for Palestine

The U.S. decision comes at a time when international support for the establishment of a Palestinian state has significantly increased. At a recent conference on the two-state solution co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, 142 UN member states supported this path. Over the past year, several governments have also recognized Palestine, indicating changes in international diplomacy.

The new U.S. restrictions coincide with increasing violence from Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank and the ongoing crisis in Gaza. The Palestinian Authority holds the status of a "non-member observer state" at the United Nations and does not have voting rights, but the presence of its leaders at the annual General Assembly is considered one of the most important diplomatic arenas for Palestinians on the international stage.

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