Palestinian leaders denied US visas

 

TT

 

Published 11.15

 

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, the administrative capital of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, earlier in September. Photo: Mahmoud Illean/AP/TT

For the second consecutive year, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been denied a US visa to attend the UN General Assembly, according to multiple media reports.

The news regarding Abbas follows the US State Department’s announcement of a continued visa ban for Palestinian officials—a move *The New York Times * reports is due to their efforts to "internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

This reportedly stems, in part, from attempts by Palestinian politicians to initiate proceedings in international tribunals, such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

The Palestinian Authority (PA), which administers limited self-rule in the West Bank, has described the decision as "unjust," according to AFP.

Last year, 80 Palestinian officials were denied US visas for the annual UN General Assembly. At that time, the PA and the Palestinian umbrella organization, the PLO, were accused of "glorifying terrorism."