The United States has announced plans to deny or revoke visas for Palestinian officials intending to attend the upcoming UN General Assembly session in New York. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized these officials, claiming they undermine peace efforts and pursue “the unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state.” This decision is noteworthy, as the U.S., being the host nation, typically facilitates travel for officials from various countries visiting UN headquarters.
This move coincides with France leading international initiatives to recognize a Palestinian state during the Assembly session. The previous Trump administration expressed firm support for Israel, opposing such recognition. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently rejected the concept of a two-state solution, which envisions an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel based on pre-1967 borders including East Jerusalem as its capital. He argues that recognizing Palestinian statehood would reward terrorism associated with Hamas.
Following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and dozens taken hostage, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza. Reports from the Hamas-run health ministry indicate that over 63,000 individuals have died in Gaza since the conflict escalated.
Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip for several years, while the Fatah party leads the West Bank, both under the broader Palestinian Authority (PA) overseen by President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas also heads the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), representing Palestinian interests internationally. The PLO holds observer status at the UN, allowing participation in meetings but not voting rights.
Rubio stated that for the PA and PLO to be seen as peace partners, they must renounce terrorism and cease pursuing legal actions against Israel in international courts. The United States claimed that Palestinian representatives could attend the UN based on the UN Headquarters Agreement, which emphasizes free access to officials despite international relations. However, it remains uncertain if the U.S. visa action aligns with this agreement, as it generally protects foreign officials from travel restrictions imposed by the host country.
In addition to France, the UK, Canada, and Australia have expressed intentions to acknowledge a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN session, where Palestine is recognized by 147 of the UN’s 193 member states. Despite this, recognition does not alter the practical realities of the Israeli-Palestinian situation, characterized by undefined borders and Israeli settlements in the West Bank considered illegal under international law.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjdym32z9v7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss