The Trump administration has announced it will deny and revoke visas for members and officials of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September.
This move is part of the US government’s efforts to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments and undermining peace prospects.
According to the US Department of State, the decision is driven by the PLO and PA’s failure to consistently repudiate terrorism, citing the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.
Additionally, the State Department accused the Palestinian Authority of attempting to bypass negotiations by appealing to the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice for Israeli abuses committed in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. UN experts have described Israel’s actions in Gaza as a genocide.
The US move has sparked controversy, with Palestinian Authority Ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, expressing uncertainty about whether the decision would affect Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s planned visit to the UN gathering.
Mansour stated, “We will see exactly what it means and how it applies to any of our delegation, and we will respond accordingly.”
This is not the first time the US has denied visas to Palestinian officials. In 1988, the US denied a visa to then PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, and in 2013, it denied a visa to Omar al-Bashir, the then head of state of Sudan, who was wanted by the International Criminal Court.
Notably, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also wanted by the ICC, is expected to visit New York next month.
Alan Fisher highlighted the controversy surrounding the US decision, noting that as a host state, the US is expected to grant visas to UN member-state representatives visiting the international organization’s headquarters.
Fisher added that the US agreement to host the UN in 1947 implied that US immigration policies would not impact people attending official UN business.
The denial of visas to Palestinian officials comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Palestinian authorities.
The Trump administration has previously sanctioned members of the PA and PLO, accusing them of glorifying violence and undermining peace. This latest move may further strain relations and impact diplomatic efforts in the region.
In a similar vein, the Trump administration’s decision to revoke Secret Service protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris has sparked concerns about safety and political motivations.
Harris will lose protection from the federal law enforcement agency starting September 1, which could pose significant security risks, especially with her upcoming book tour.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have expressed concern over Harris’ safety, with Bass pledging to ensure her safety in Los Angeles.
The US decision to deny visas to Palestinian officials reflects the complex dynamics of international diplomacy and the challenges of navigating competing interests and obligations.
As tensions continue to rise, the international community will be watching closely for developments in this situation.