In an unprecedented move, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied visas to Palestinian leaders, effectively barring them from attending the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly.
This decision is rooted in U.S. law that refuses to acknowledge Palestinian statehood and penalizes the Palestinian Authority for its alleged "pay for slay" payments to terrorists.
As reported by Fox News, Rubio endorsed recommendations to deny visas to high-ranking officials of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), including PA President Mahmoud Abbas. The internal documents reviewed by Fox News reveal this significant development.
Tommy Pigott, a State Department spokesperson, stated on Friday, "In compliance with the laws and national security interests of the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is denying and revoking visas from members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the?Palestinian Authority (PA) ahead of the upcoming UN General Assembly."
He further emphasized that the PA and PLO must renounce terrorism, lawfare campaigns at the ICC and ICJ, and the pursuit of unilateral recognition of statehood before they can be considered serious partners for peace.
Pigott added, "The United States remains open to re-engagement should the PA/PLO demonstrably take concrete steps to return to constructive engagement. The Trump Administration does not reward terrorism."
This action effectively prevents Palestinian leaders from using the annual U.N. gathering in New York as a platform to push for unilateral recognition of statehood, a tactic they have frequently employed in the past.
The decision is based on the Palestinian Liberation Organization Commitments Compliance Act (PLOCCA) and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act (MEPCA). These acts found the PA and PLO in violation of U.S. commitments due to their unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood, glorification of violence, promotion of antisemitism, and provision of material support to terrorists. As a result, the sanctions require an automatic denial of visas for at least 180 days.
While the U.S. has previously denied visas on an individual basis, including for members of the Iranian delegation, this is the first time an entire delegation has been barred from attending the U.N. General Assembly. The internal documents argue that this unprecedented step is justified as Palestinian leaders plan to use the September forum to push a "constitutional declaration" of independence, a move seen by the U.S. as a significant propaganda victory for Hamas and a threat to ceasefire talks in Gaza.
The recommendations suggest rejecting visa applications from Palestinian officials, declining a waiver for Abbas, and revoking visas issued before July 31 for PLO and PA members. However, permanent staff and dependents at the Palestinian U.N. Observer Mission would be allowed to remain under U.S. obligations to the U.N. Headquarters Agreement.
U.S. officials believe that granting waivers "would undermine the credibility" of existing sanctions and encourage the PA to pursue unilateral recognition efforts. Conversely, enforcing the visa bans was described as a "low-cost, high-impact action" to reinforce U.S. policy.
Since 2012, Palestinian representatives have held non-member observer status at the U.N., a designation that allows them to participate in debates but not vote. While the U.S. has pledged under the U.N. Headquarters Agreement not to obstruct travel for official U.N. business, the documents argue that the PAs use of the General Assembly to advance statehood recognition falls outside routine mission work and poses a direct challenge to U.S. national interests.
This decision by Rubio signifies a historic shift from the U.S. tradition of accommodating U.N. participation, potentially leading to a clash with international bodies and U.S. allies that continue to recognize Palestinian representatives.
This move comes after decades of tension between Washington and the United Nations over issues related to Israel, particularly following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
The United States has frequently used its Security Council veto power to block resolutions critical of Israel more than any other permanent member has used its veto for a single ally. This latest move further underscores the U.S.'s unwavering support for Israel and its commitment to thwarting any attempts at unilateral Palestinian statehood.
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