The EU regrets Washington’s decision to deny visas for the second year running to Palestinian officials seeking to attend the UN General Assembly. The External Service of the EU is urging the US to rethink this decision.
The US State Department simply refused to grant visas to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and other members of his delegation ahead of next week’s meeting in New York.
“In light of its existing headquarters agreements with the UN and its obligations as host state, we urge the United States to reconsider this decision,” the spokesperson for the EU’s diplomatic service said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed regret at Washington’s decision.
The United States is at odds with the 142 UN member states that recognised a Palestinian state at the United Nations last year.
