Report: Ahead of UN General Assembly - US to again prevent Abu Mazen from entering the country

The US is refusing to grant entry visas to Abu Mazen and his delegation ahead of the UN General Assembly, according to a report on the Saudi channel Al-Hadath. Washington also took this step last year, when Abu Mazen spoke via video. An American diplomat explained that the Trump administration demands that the PLO and the Palestinian Authority be held accountable for failing to meet their obligations under the Oslo Accords.

The United States is refusing to grant entry visas to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and members of his delegation ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York, according to a report on the Saudi channel Al-Hadath. Washington also took this step last year, when the General Assembly allowed Abbas to speak via video. An American diplomat explained that the Trump administration has made clear that the PLO and the Palestinian Authority must be held accountable for failing to meet their obligations under the Oslo Accords and for "harming the chances for peace." Under the UN Headquarters Agreement, the United States is generally obligated to allow foreign diplomats access to UN headquarters, but Washington argues it is entitled to refuse on grounds of security, terrorism, extremism, and foreign policy considerations.