The Trump administration is planning to prevent Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from traveling to New York next month to address the United Nations General Assembly, despite an effort by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to persuade President Trump to reverse the decision, according to a report.
A U.S. official told The Times of Israel that Washington intends to deny Abbas entry to the United States for the annual gathering, marking the second consecutive year that the Palestinian leader would be barred from attending the General Assembly in person.
The United States refused to grant Abbas a visa last year, arguing that the Palestinian Authority had taken steps that undermined prospects for peace.
Washington did not publicly detail its specific accusations against Ramallah at the time. The decision was widely viewed as part of an American effort to undercut a conference hosted by France and Saudi Arabia that sought to advance a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
While no similar conference is planned on the sidelines of this year’s UN General Assembly, the U.S. official said the Trump administration intends to maintain the precedent it established last year regarding Abbas.
Abbas reportedly sought help from Erdogan in an attempt to overturn the decision.
A Palestinian official told The Times of Israel that Abbas asked the Turkish president to personally raise the matter with Trump, apparently hoping Erdogan’s relationship with the president could convince Washington to allow him to travel to New York.
The effort was unsuccessful, however, with Erdogan reportedly failing to persuade Trump to reverse the State Department’s decision.
The expected move could trigger another dispute between Washington and the United Nations over America’s responsibilities as the host country of the world body.
Asked about the matter, a UN official expressed hope that the United States would honor its obligations under its agreement as host of the United Nations and permit delegation leaders scheduled to address the General Assembly to enter the country.
“We hope that the United States will honor its commitment as the host country and allow speakers at the General Assembly to attend,” the official said.
If the decision stands, Abbas will once again be unable to personally address world leaders gathered in New York, despite his position as head of the Palestinian Authority.
{Matzav.com}
