UNITED NATIONS / USA: In a significant diplomatic development, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has approved a resolution granting Palestine greater participation rights after the United States refused to issue visas to President Mahmoud Abbas and dozens of senior officials.
The resolution, backed by an overwhelming majority of 145 nations, allows Palestinian representatives to address the General Assembly through pre-recorded or live video statements if barred from traveling to New York. Only five countries opposed the move, while six abstained.
The U.S. had denied entry to Abbas and nearly 80 other officials, citing national security and compliance issues. This decision sparked sharp criticism from the Palestinian Authority, which condemned the action as a breach of international obligations, particularly the UN–U.S. Headquarters Agreement that mandates free access for official delegations.
The vote also comes at a time when several key nations, including France, Britain, Belgium, and Australia, are preparing to extend formal recognition of Palestine at a high-level summit co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. Observers see these moves as part of a broader push to enhance Palestine’s diplomatic standing and increase pressure on Israel amid the continuing conflict in Gaza and the occupied territories.
With this new mandate, Palestine is expected to make its presence felt more strongly in UN debates and international discussions, despite Washington’s attempts to limit direct engagement.
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