Trump Administration Plans to Bar Mahmoud Abbas from UN

The Trump administration plans to bar Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from entering the United States to address the United Nations General Assembly in September. This would mark the second consecutive year Washington has denied visas to Abbas and other Palestinian Authority officials, citing security, extremism, and foreign policy concerns. The U.S. has previously accused the Palestinian Authority of undermining peace prospects by seeking international recognition of a Palestinian state.

In an effort to reverse the decision, Abbas requested the intervention of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Despite a phone call between Erdogan and President Donald Trump on August 19, U.S. officials confirmed the restriction remains in effect. Abbas is currently scheduled to speak on September 24; if the ban holds, the General Assembly may adopt a procedural measure to allow him to deliver his address remotely via video.

The United Nations has urged the U.S. to facilitate access for Palestinian officials, citing the 1947 Headquarters Agreement. UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated that while the organization has not received official notification of the ban, the Secretariat has previously raised similar visa restriction issues with the U.S., including disputes involving Russian delegations.