US revokes Palestinians’ visas ahead of UNGA
WASHINGTON:
The US is denying and revoking visas from members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority ahead of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September, the State Department said on Friday.
The department did not name the officials targeted and it was also unclear whether Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is planning to travel to New York to deliver an address to the late September gathering, was included in the restrictions.
The Palestinians’ ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, told reporters that they were checking exactly what the US move means “and how it applies to any of our delegation, and we will respond accordingly.” Abbas’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The US restrictions follow the imposition of US sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and the PLO members in July, even as other Western powers move toward recognition of Palestinian statehood.