Palestinian officials accuse US of ignoring reforms after Abbas barred from UN visit

A senior Palestinian official rejects the US decision to bar PA President Mahmoud Abbas from attending the UN General Assembly in person for the second consecutive year, accusing Washington of ignoring reforms the PA has implemented. The official claims the denial is politically motivated, tied to Palestinian diplomatic moves at international institutions. The US State Department cites the PA's failure to reform, including actions at the ICC and ICJ, unilateral recognition efforts, and payments to terrorists, as grounds for the visa denial and extended sanctions.

A senior Palestinian official has rejected the United States' decision to bar PA President Mahmoud Abbas from attending the UN General Assembly in New York to deliver his speech in person for the second consecutive year. The official, one of Abbas's closest associates, expressed dissatisfaction with what he said appeared to be the US administration's lack of consideration for reforms the PA has begun introducing into its institutions. He claimed the issue is political, not about reforms, and linked the denial to Palestinian diplomatic moves at international institutions, including efforts at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, as well as statehood recognition efforts. The US State Department announced it would extend visa sanctions on PLO and PA officials, citing the PA's failure to reform, including actions to internationalize the conflict, unilateral recognition, and continued payments to terrorists. Abbas's office issued a statement defending recourse to international institutions as a legitimate right and rejecting the US stance. The official confirmed that Palestinian efforts to reverse the decision have failed and that the PA will continue pursuing diplomatic moves internationally.