Trump administration to bar Abbas from UN for second straight year

According to Israeli media citing American officials, the Trump administration plans to bar Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas from entering the United States for next month’s UN General Assembly. This marks the second consecutive year Washington has prevented Abbas from traveling to New York for the annual gathering. Last year, the US denied visas to Abbas and approximately 80 other PA officials, citing actions that allegedly weakened peace prospects, including efforts to secure international recognition of a Palestinian state. Reports indicate that Abbas recently asked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to intervene with President Donald Trump during a visit to Ankara. Despite a phone call between Erdogan and Trump on Tuesday, US officials confirmed that the visa restrictions remain in effect. A PA official had previously claimed that Erdogan responded positively to the request. Meanwhile, a UN official expressed hope that Washington would fulfill its responsibilities as the host country by allowing delegation heads to enter the US to address the General Assembly. Abbas is currently scheduled to speak on the morning of September 24; if the entry ban persists, a procedural measure similar to last year’s—allowing for a remote video address—would likely be required.