EU urges US to lift travel ban on Palestinian delegation for UNGA meeting
The United Nations General Assembly will allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address via a prerecorded video.
The European Union says it regrets the denial of visas by the United States for the second year running to Palestinian Authority (PA) officials seeking to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, urging it to reconsider the decision.
The statement on Saturday comes just days after the UNGA voted to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the body during the upcoming 81st session via a prerecorded statement.
“In light of its existing headquarters agreements with the UN and its obligations as host state, we urge the United States for this decision to be reconsidered,” said Anouar El Anouni, a spokesman for the EU’s diplomatic service.
The department accused the PA of violating US law by bypassing direct negotiations to seek international recognition of Palestinian statehood.