Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attends the groundbreaking ceremony for the Innovation and Excellence Complex in the city of Ramallah, in the West Bank, on Sep. 9, 2026. (Credit: Zain Jaafar / AFP)
The European Union said Saturday it regretted Washington’s decision to deny, for the second consecutive year, visas to Palestinian officials seeking to participate in the U.N. General Assembly in New York and called for the decision to be reconsidered.
’’In light of their agreements with the U.N. and their obligations as a host country, we call on the United States to reconsider this decision,’’ said Anouar Al Anouni, a spokesperson for the EU diplomatic service.
The U.S. State Department announced Thursday that it was refusing to grant visas to the Palestinian delegation, including President Mahmoud Abbas. Only representatives from the Palestinian mission to the U.N. will be allowed to participate in the annual gathering, which begins Tuesday.
On Friday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was ‘‘deeply regretful’’ over the U.S. decision. ‘‘The full participation of all delegations in the work of the U.N. is essential for its proper functioning,’’ his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said.
In response to the U.S. decision, U.N. General Assembly member states adopted a resolution Thursday authorizing the Palestinian Authority president to address the body by prerecorded video. The resolution was adopted with 152 votes in favor, three against, the United States, Paraguay and Israel, and four abstentions.
Under the resolution, Abbas will also be able to participate by videoconference in any relevant meetings organized next week at U.N. headquarters.
Washington accuses the Palestinian Authority of ‘‘failing in its commitments to peace in the Middle East’’ and of taking actions aimed at ‘‘internationalizing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,’’ notably through the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. The United States has also accused the Palestinian Authority of ‘‘seeking to bypass negotiations by soliciting unilateral recognition.’’
The U.S. position contrasts with that of numerous countries, including France, that recognized a Palestinian state last year, bringing the number of U.N. member states that recognize Palestine to 142.
