GAZA: Following the U.S. government’s announcement to deny visas to Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, and several other Palestinian officials for attending the annual United Nations General Assembly, the European Union has urged Washington to reconsider its decision. Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, stated during a meeting of foreign ministers in Copenhagen that “the ministers have made their request to the U.S.” He noted that there are differing opinions among member countries regarding the potential for “economic pressure” on Israel, describing this lack of unity as “problematic.” Borrell expressed skepticism about the EU’s ability to reach an agreement on a draft that would limit Israel’s access to financial and research programs. The office of Mahmoud Abbas called the U.S. decision “surprising,” asserting that it “contradicts international laws and UN agreements,” especially considering that Palestine is recognized as a non-member observer state at the UN. Previously, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot criticized the U.S. action, stating that no restrictions should prevent countries from accessing the UN. France is among the countries planning to formally recognize the Palestinian state during this year’s General Assembly. On Friday, August 29, the U.S. State Department announced that Mahmoud Abbas’s visa for attending the UN General Assembly had been “revoked,” preventing him from participating in the upcoming session in New York.
