US blocks visas for Palestinian officials ahead of UN summit
The United States announced on Friday that it will refuse visas to Palestinian Authority officials planning to attend next month’s United Nations General Assembly in New York. The move comes as France leads an international push to recognize a Palestinian state. The decision marks a significant escalation by President Donald Trump’s administration, which has consistently aligned itself with Israel’s government. Israel strongly opposes Palestinian statehood and has sought to equate the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority with Hamas in Gaza. “Secretary of State Marco Rubio is denying and revoking visas from members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) ahead of the UN General Assembly,” the US State Department said in a statement. The department accused Palestinian leaders of undermining peace efforts by turning to international courts instead of direct negotiations with Israel. It said the PA […]