US extends visa ban on Palestinian officials ahead of UN General Assembly

The United States has extended visa restrictions on officials of the Palestinian Authority and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization ahead of next week’s United Nations General Assembly, preventing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from travelling to New York for his address for a second consecutive year.

The US State Department said the sanctions were being continued because, in Washington’s assessment, the Palestinian leadership had failed to carry out promised reforms and was pursuing actions that undermine prospects for peace.

US officials specifically cited Palestinian efforts to secure international recognition of statehood outside direct negotiations with Israel, legal action involving Israel at international courts, and payments to Palestinians convicted of attacks and their families.

The Palestinian mission to the United Nations will retain a waiver under the UN Headquarters Agreement, allowing its regular staff to continue working in New York even though individual Palestinian officials remain subject to the travel restrictions.

Abbas had been expected to use his General Assembly address to press for wider recognition of Palestinian statehood and renewed momentum towards a two-state solution. His planned intervention also comes amid international concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The restrictions come as several Western governments, including the United Kingdom, France and Canada, have moved to recognise Palestinian statehood, adding to diplomatic pressure surrounding the conflict.

Critics of last year’s restrictions, including Palestinian officials and United Nations human-rights experts, argued that barring invited representatives from travelling to UN headquarters was inconsistent with US obligations as host country. They also questioned Washington’s decision to target Palestinian representatives while Israeli leaders face no equivalent US travel restrictions.

The visa dispute is therefore likely to become another point of contention at the General Assembly as governments debate the future of Gaza, Palestinian statehood and prospects for a negotiated settlement with Israel.

Source: Al Jazeera. Read the original report.

The post US extends visa ban on Palestinian officials ahead of UN General Assembly appeared first on Lesotho Times.