The United States has again denied a visa to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, preventing him from travelling to New York to attend next week’s United Nations General Assembly, according to a source familiar with the matter cited by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The decision marks the second consecutive year that Abbas has been unable to attend the UN’s annual gathering in person.
Last year, UN member states approved Abbas’s participation by video link, allowing him to address the General Assembly remotely.
Alongside the decision on Abbas, the US State Department has announced expanded visa restrictions affecting officials of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
Washington has accused the PA and PLO of failing to implement necessary reforms and of undermining prospects for peace.
The latest move comes amid continued diplomatic tensions between Washington and the Palestinian leadership over Palestinian governance, reforms and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The United States imposed similar visa restrictions last year, also preventing Abbas from attending the General Assembly in person.
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