United States Revokes Abbas' Visa Prior to UN Sessions

The United States has made a controversial move by revoking visas for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and around 80 other representatives, causing a stir ahead of the UN General Assembly in September.

The decision comes amidst growing international frustration over Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip and the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Several US allies, including Britain, France, Australia, and Canada, have announced their plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state during the assembly next month. As of the current paragraph, at least 147 of the 193 UN member states already recognize a Palestinian state.

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is the official representative of the Palestinian people on the international stage. However, the Islamic Hamas, the second-largest Palestinian organization, is neither part of the PLO nor the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The PA, led by Abbas, administers parts of the West Bank. The Palestinians currently have observer status at the UN, similar to the Vatican. The Palestinian Authority's UN mission is exempt from the visa restrictions imposed by the USA.

However, this exemption did not apply to Yasser Arafat in 1988, when the USA refused a visa to the then PLO leader. A session was moved to Geneva so that Arafat could give a speech in response to the visa refusal.

Abbas' office expressed regret and surprise over the US State Department's decision to revoke visas for Palestinian representatives. The move was criticized by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who accused the PLO and PA of rewarding "terrorism and incitement" and thanked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for holding them accountable.

The USA argues that it can refuse visas on grounds of security, extremism, and foreign policy. The UN hopes that the USA will lift the entry bans for Palestinians to the UN General Assembly in New York. Foreign delegations must enter US territory before they can continue their journey to the UN headquarters in New York, which is located on territory with a special status that is not actually part of the USA.

France, Belgium, and Canada plan to recognize Palestine "under reservation," joining France and Canada who have announced similar plans. Belgium intends to recognize Palestine under reservation, a move that allows the recognition while maintaining diplomatic flexibility.

This decision by the US administration has sparked debate and criticism, with many questioning the impact it will have on the peace process and the international community's ability to engage with the Palestinian leadership.