In a move that has ignited a significant diplomatic controversy, the United States has refused to grant a visa to the Palestinian Authority's top representative to the United Nations, effectively barring him from attending the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York.
The decision, confirmed by a US State Department spokesperson, blocks Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian Observer to the UN, from participating in the high-profile gathering of world leaders. The US cited longstanding immigration law, specifically citing the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) Mission Closing Act of 2019, as the legal basis for the denial.
This action represents a major escalation in the ongoing diplomatic friction between the US and the Palestinian leadership. A spokesperson for the Palestinian mission condemned the move, labelling it a "blatant act of political pressure" designed to silence their voice on the international stage during a critical period.
The visa denial prevents the Palestinian delegation from fully engaging in the General Debate, a key forum for setting the global agenda. This development is likely to cast a shadow over the assembly and could complicate multilateral discussions concerning the Middle East.
While the US maintains its decision is strictly a legal enforcement matter, critics and observers are framing it as a potent political gesture, further straining an already fragile relationship.
