The USA strongly supported Israel by banning Mahmoud Abbas and 80 PA officials from entering the UN General Assembly
Washington took a powerful step in support of Israel by denying visas to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and about 80 representatives of his administration to participate in the UN General Assembly session in New York in September. As explained by the US State Department, this decision is dictated by national security interests and aimed at stopping the actions of the Palestinian Authority, which, in Washington’s opinion, undermine the prospects for the peace process.
The Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) continue to seek unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, bypassing direct negotiations with Israel, and do not abandon support for radical rhetoric and actions that hinder a peaceful settlement. To count on normalization of relations with the US, the PA must “completely reject terrorism” and stop the legal war against Israel through international courts, such as the ICC and the International Court of Justice of the UN.
In Israel, the decision of the Donald Trump administration was highly appreciated, calling it an “important signal” that the US will not tolerate attempts by the PA to undermine Israel’s security and peace prospects. In Ramallah, this decision provoked sharp criticism. Representatives of Abbas called the ban a “violation of international law” and the US obligations under the 1947 UN headquarters agreement.
The US decision gains special significance against the backdrop of plans by several Western countries, including France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, to announce recognition of a Palestinian state at the upcoming General Assembly. France and Saudi Arabia, in particular, were preparing a meeting to promote this initiative, which, according to analysts, could be seen as an attempt to undermine the negotiation process with Israel.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that visa restrictions will remain in place until the PA changes its policy, including abandoning support for extremism and legal attacks on Israel. “This decision demonstrates the US commitment to protecting its key ally in the Middle East and countering those who undermine stability in the region,” Rubio noted.
The Israeli public and pro-Israel circles around the world welcomed Washington’s move, seeing it as confirmation of the United States’ firm support for Israel’s right to security and sovereignty. The decision also emphasizes the importance of direct negotiations as the only path to sustainable peace, fully aligning with Israel’s position on the need for dialogue without preconditions. This US move is another proof that the Trump administration continues to firmly oppose attempts to delegitimize Israel on the international stage, strengthening the strategic partnership with the Jewish state
