The United States has again denied Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas a visa to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The denial, confirmed by US and Palestinian officials, means Abbas will be unable to attend the annual gathering in person for the second consecutive year.
The US State Department on Wednesday announced that it was extending visa restrictions on Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization ahead of the General Assembly.
The restrictions affect Abbas and other senior Palestinian officials seeking to attend the UN meeting, according to reports citing US officials.
Washington said the Palestinian Authority and PLO had failed to meet commitments previously made to the United States.
The State Department cited Palestinian efforts to pursue the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through international legal bodies, including the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, as well as efforts to secure recognition of a Palestinian state outside negotiations with Israel.
Abbas was also denied a US visa ahead of last year’s General Assembly. He was subsequently allowed to address the meeting remotely after the UN General Assembly approved his participation by video.
The latest decision comes ahead of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, which is scheduled to begin its high-level debate in New York next week.
The Palestinian Authority has observer status at the United Nations and does not have voting rights in the General Assembly.
The US restrictions come amid continued tensions between Washington and the Palestinian leadership over the war in Gaza, Palestinian statehood and international legal proceedings involving Israel.
