US Revokes Visas of Palestinian Officials Ahead of UN Meeting
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the visas of a number of Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization officials ahead of next month’s annual high-level meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, where the groups previously have been represented.
The State Department said in a statement Friday that Rubio also had ordered some new visa applications from Palestinian officials be denied.
“It is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace,” the statement said.
It said that to be considered partners for peace the groups “must consistently repudiate terrorism, and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by U.S. law and as promised by the PLO.”
Background and Context
The move is the latest in a series of steps the White House has taken to target Palestinians with visa restrictions and comes as the Israeli military declared Gaza’s largest city a combat zone.
The State Department also suspended a program that had allowed injured Palestinian children from Gaza to come to the U.S. for medical treatment after a social media outcry by some conservatives.
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Reaction from the Palestinian Authority
The State Department didn’t specify how many visas had been revoked or how many applications had been denied or give details beyond its statement. It wasn’t immediately clear if Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would be affected.
The Palestinian Authority denounced the visa withdrawals as a violation of U.S. commitments as the host country of the United Nations and urged the State Department to reverse its decision.
It said in a statement that the Palestinian presidency “expressed its deep regret and astonishment” at the visa decision, which “contravenes international law and the Headquarters Agreement, especially since the State of Palestine is an observer member of the United Nations.”
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UN Response
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the world body would be seeking clarification from the State Department.
“We obviously hope that this will be resolved,” he said. “It is important that all member states, permanent observers be able to be represented.”
The State Department said representatives assigned to the Palestinian Authority mission at the United Nations would be granted waivers under the U.S. host country agreement with the U.N. so they can continue their New York-based operations.
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN
The Palestinian ambassador to the U.N., Riyad Mansour, told reporters Friday that Abbas planned to lead the delegation to the U.N. meetings and was expected to address the General Assembly — as he has done for many years.
He also was expected to attend a high-level meeting co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia on Sept. 22 about a two-state solution, which calls for Israel living side-by-side with an independent Palestine.
Conclusion
The revocation of visas for Palestinian officials is a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The move is likely to have far-reaching implications for the peace process and the relationship between the US and the Palestinian Authority. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the international community will respond and what the long-term consequences of this decision will be.
FAQs
Q: Why did the US revoke the visas of Palestinian officials?
A: The US revoked the visas of Palestinian officials due to their failure to comply with their commitments and for undermining the prospects for peace.
Q: How many visas were revoked?
A: The State Department did not specify how many visas were revoked.
Q: Will Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas be affected?
A: It is not immediately clear if Abbas will be affected by the visa revocations.
Q: What is the reaction from the Palestinian Authority?
A: The Palestinian Authority has denounced the visa withdrawals as a violation of US commitments and has urged the State Department to reverse its decision.
Q: What is the UN’s response to the situation?
A: The UN is seeking clarification from the State Department and hopes that the issue will be resolved.
