WASHINGTON: The United States has announced that it will not issue visas to Palestinian officials, including Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, for participation in next month’s United Nations General Assembly in New York. As a result, Abbas will be unable to deliver a speech at the meeting. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the Palestinians of attempting to seek “unilateral recognition of Palestine” and “undermining peace.” However, Palestinian representatives can still attend sessions under the UN’s charter agreements, although it remains unclear whether the U.S. action aligns with these agreements. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently rejected the idea of a two-state solution, arguing that recognizing a Palestinian state equates to “rewarding Hamas terrorism.” Hamas controls Gaza, while the Fatah party manages the West Bank. Mahmoud Abbas leads the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, representing the Palestinian people in international forums.
