Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, is scheduled to deliver a virtual address to the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday. This comes after he was denied a physical visa to attend the New York gathering, and will speak instead from his party’s base in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Abbas leads an organization that governs parts of the West Bank and sees itself as the legitimate future government of an independent Palestinian state. His morning address is anticipated by a largely supportive international audience. The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip has been a central theme for world leaders at this year’s General Assembly, with Palestinian statehood prominently discussed at a recent conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.
At this crucial conference, numerous world leaders formally acknowledged Palestinian statehood. They also strongly condemned Israel’s military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in 65,000 deaths and over a million displaced, advocating for an immediate end to the suffering and widespread starvation, which some characterized as genocide.
Abbas has long pursued a vision of an independent Palestinian state, free from Israeli military occupation. This week marked a significant step towards this goal, with ten Western nations, including France, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Belgium, officially recognizing Palestinian statehood, adding to the approximately 150 countries that had previously done so.
Both Israel and the United States opposed these recognitions, deeming them a concession to Hamas. The militant group initiated the Gaza war with an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 abductions. The opposing nations dismissed the statehood announcements as symbolic gestures with little practical impact on the Gaza situation.
Nevertheless, the diplomatic recognition of Palestinian statehood holds considerable political and symbolic significance, potentially complicating Israel’s ability to circumvent a two-state solution.
Recent suggestions from Israeli officials hinted at a possible annexation of parts of the West Bank as a response to the statehood recognitions. However, sources familiar with the discussions indicate that President Trump personally assured leaders from Arab and Muslim-majority countries this week that he would prevent Israel from annexing the occupied West Bank.
During his virtual address at the French and Saudi-hosted conference on Monday, Abbas explicitly stated that Hamas would not be involved in governing a future Palestinian state. He urged Hamas to release all hostages and disarm, while also imploring Israel to “end the bloodshed” and return to peace negotiations.
He concluded with a powerful plea: “Enough violence and war. Our future and yours depend on peace. Our generation deserves to enjoy freedom and security.”
Trump Assures Arab Leaders He Won’t Allow Israel to Annex West Bank
President Trump privately conveyed to leaders of Arab and Muslim-majority nations this week that he would oppose any Israeli attempts to annex the occupied West Bank, according to three informed sources.
This assurance comes amidst recent proposals from Israeli officials to annex portions of the West Bank, a retaliatory measure following the recognition of Palestinian statehood by several countries, including the UK, Canada, and France.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under increasing pressure from his right-wing coalition to assert sovereignty over the West Bank, with far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir demanding immediate action on Sunday.
Trump’s pledges against annexation were made during a Tuesday meeting held alongside the United Nations General Assembly. Those familiar with the discussions, including an Arab official, spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information.
Attendees at the meeting included the presidents of Turkey and Qatar, the King of Jordan, the Foreign Minister of the UAE, the Prime Minister of Egypt, and other prominent regional and Muslim leaders.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan characterized his talks with President Trump as having been “productive and successful.”
The mere prospect of annexation has drawn widespread condemnation across the Arab world. Palestinian leaders and the international community widely envision the West Bank as a core component of a future independent Palestinian state.
Approximately three million Palestinians reside in the West Bank, a territory under Israeli control since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Additionally, half a million Israelis live in settlements within the West Bank, which are considered illegal by Palestinians and most of the international community.
A unilateral annexation of any part of the West Bank by Israel would highlight the diminishing hopes for a Palestinian state. Many Palestinians, however, argue that Israel’s existing policies in the West Bank, such as severe restrictions on Palestinian movement and construction, already constitute de facto annexation.
While acknowledging the significant symbolic value of international recognition, Palestinian officials assert that it has not alleviated the dire daily realities faced by Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated his firm opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
He stated unequivocally, “There will be no Palestinian state west of the Jordan River. For years, I have actively prevented the establishment of this terrorist state despite immense pressure both domestically and internationally.”
Isabel Kershner contributed reporting.
The Visa Standoff Between Trump and the U.N.
With the United Nations General Assembly convening in New York City this week, discussions are heavily focused on the Gaza conflict and the question of Palestinian statehood. Yet, a striking absence is that of the Palestinian leadership.
The Trump administration has refused to grant visas to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority President, and his accompanying delegation. As the U.N. headquarters is located in New York City, the U.S. is responsible for issuing visas to all participating leaders and diplomats.
The State Department cited national security concerns as the basis for denying Abbas’s visa request.
On Monday, France joined over 100 other countries at a conference discussing a two-state solution, formally announcing its recognition of the state of Palestine. The United States, however, maintains that Palestinian statehood should be determined through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
This situation has led to a diplomatic standoff, and here’s a breakdown of the key points.
What does the U.S.-U.N. Headquarters Agreement stipulate?
In 1947, the U.S. and the U.N. formalized a 16-page ‘Headquarters Agreement,’ which, after approval by the U.S. President and Congress through a joint resolution, attained the status of federal law.
Section 11 of this agreement explicitly states that U.S. federal, state, and local authorities must not obstruct transit to or from the U.N. headquarters district. This right of access extends to representatives of member states and anyone officially invited to the headquarters by the U.N. or its associated agencies.
Furthermore, the agreement clarifies that visa provisions apply universally, regardless of the diplomatic relationship between the U.S. government and the governments of the individuals seeking entry.
Any disagreements between the U.N. and the U.S. regarding host-country obligations are handled by a 19-member committee of member states, with the option for arbitration if the issue remains unresolved.
U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric confirmed, “We have formally raised this issue with the United States, referencing their obligations under the Headquarters Agreement, and are seeking clarification. We are deeply concerned about the potential ramifications of this decision.”
Has the U.S. ever denied entry to U.N. diplomats or leaders?
This question has been a consistent point of contention for decades.
While approving the Headquarters Agreement, U.S. lawmakers also enacted separate legislation affirming that the agreement does not diminish the United States’ right to protect its national security. This legislation clarifies that the U.S. retains full control over the entry of foreign nationals into any U.S. territory outside the U.N. headquarters district and its immediate surroundings.
However, both the United Nations and numerous legal experts contend that the U.S. is indeed violating the agreement. They assert that the U.S. is legally bound to provide visas and unrestricted access to the U.N., arguing there are no loopholes in the host-country agreement and its language is unambiguous.
Larry Johnson, former Assistant Secretary General for Legal Affairs at the U.N., highlighted the historical context, stating, “This fundamental dispute between the U.N. and the U.S. dates back to 1947.”
Historical instances of U.S. visa denials for U.N. attendees.
The sole precedent for the U.S. denying entry to a head of government for the General Assembly occurred in 1988 when Palestinian Authority leader Yasir Arafat’s visa was blocked. Notably, Arafat was able to attend subsequent U.N. events in following years.
Robert A. Wood, a former deputy ambassador to the U.N. during the Biden administration, explained that while visa restrictions and delays are not uncommon for delegations from nations like Russia, Iran, China, and Venezuela, typically due to intelligence or security concerns, an outright denial or threat to deny access to a head of government is exceptionally rare.
Wood emphasized the contentious nature of such decisions: “This is a highly controversial issue, and any time the question of denying visas arises, it invariably leads to debates about our legal authority to do so.”
Diplomats from Russia and Venezuela frequently lament that the U.S. deliberately prolongs the visa approval process, often resulting in visas being issued only after the intended event has concluded, thereby effectively preventing their attendance. This year, delegates from Brazil, a country that has openly challenged U.S. pressure regarding the legal proceedings against former President Jair Bolsonaro, experienced significant delays, receiving some visas mere days before the General Assembly commenced.
In 2014, the U.S. denied a visa to Iran’s ambassadorial nominee due to his involvement in the 1979 hostage-taking of American diplomats.
Iranian diplomats in the U.S. are subject to strict travel limitations, typically confined to a 25-mile radius around the U.N. building. These restrictions can be even more severe, as demonstrated in 2019 when Iran’s then-Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, was prevented from traveling a short distance to visit his ailing ambassador at a cancer treatment center.