WASHINGTON — The US will not allow Palestinian officials and diplomats to attend next month’s United Nations General Assembly in New York, according to documents reviewed by The Post.
The State Department memo recommends the denial of visas to Palestinian officials set to journey to Turtle Bay — including Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas — and revoke all visas issued prior to July 31.
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and PA were sanctioned by the State Department on the same date for failing to comply with the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 (PLOCCA) and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002 (MEPCA).
“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,” said State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott in a statement.
“Before they can be taken seriously as partners for peace, the PA and PLO must repudiate terrorism, lawfare campaigns at the ICC and ICJ, and the pursuit of unilateral recognition of statehood,” Pigott added.
“The PA Mission to the UN will receive waivers per the UN Headquarters agreement.
“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.”
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the sanctions were the result of Palestinian leaders “unilaterally declaring Palestinian statehood; glorifying violence; promoting antisemitism; and providing material support to terrorists (‘pay for slay’).”
Friday’s State Department memo also cited reports that Abbas was preparing to introduce a “constitutional declaration” declaring Palestinian independence at the General Assembly, which will host its General Debate Sept. 23-27.
The sensitive but unclassified memo also stated that a French-Saudi conference on a two-state solution, also scheduled to take place with the Palestinians next month, would only serve as a “major propaganda victory for Hamas and the content of it is designed to the Palestinian state as the only possible conclusion to the war in Gaza.”
“This reduces U.S. options in ceasefire talks and in the postwar ‘endgame,’” reads the memo.
The denials of visas for the Palestinian officials marks the first known instance of the US waiving the privilege for an entire foreign delegation.
It also comes after foreign leaders — including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron — had indicated support for recognizing a Palestinian state at the annual gathering.
