US Blocks Abbas From UN Meeting as Allies Move to Recognize Palestinian State

WASHINGTON/RAMALLAH, West Bank, Aug 29  – The United States said Friday it will not allow Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to New York for next month’s United Nations General Assembly, where several U.S. allies plan to formally recognize Palestine as a state.

A State Department official confirmed that Abbas and roughly 80 other members of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) will be denied U.S. visas. The move prevents the Palestinian delegation from attending the annual high-level UN gathering as well as a summit in Manhattan where Britain, France, Australia, and Canada are expected to announce their recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Abbas’ office condemned the U.S. decision as a violation of the 1947 UN headquarters agreement, which obliges Washington to grant access for foreign diplomats. The U.S., however, maintains it can refuse visas on grounds of security, extremism, or foreign policy.

European leaders reacted sharply. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot insisted UN assemblies “cannot be subject to any restrictions on access.” Spain’s Jose Manuel Albares called the decision “unacceptable,” while Ireland’s Simon Harris urged the European Union to lodge a strong protest.

The State Department defended its stance, citing longstanding U.S. and Israeli claims that the PA and PLO have failed to repudiate extremism while seeking “unilateral recognition” of Palestinian statehood. Palestinian officials rejected the accusations, saying decades of U.S.-brokered negotiations have not ended the Israeli occupation or delivered an independent state.

“This is about our national security interests,” the State Department said. “The PLO and PA must be held accountable for failing to meet their commitments and for undermining prospects for peace.”