The majority of UN members today approved the participation of the Palestinian Authority in the United Nations General Assembly by video conference, after the United States denied the visa to its president, Mahmoud Abbas, and his government.
© Reuters
17/09/2026
by
Lusa
A The General Assembly of the organization approved the resolution with a majority of 152 votes in favour, against 4 abstentions – Colombia, Honduras, Panama and Peru – and votes against the United States, Israel and Paraguay.
The Member States have again put this resolution to a vote after the US State Department has extended its sanctions and denied Mahmoud Abbas the visa to participate in the UN General Assembly debate, where a large number of international leaders will meet.
The veto includes both the delegation of the Palestinian Authority and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), whom the US accuses, according to the State Department’s statement, of a “lack of reform” and of “internationalising the Israeli-Palestinian conflict” through complaints to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (IJC).
The resolution adopted by the UN today had already been ratified before the last General Assembly, when the Trump Administration also prevented the Palestinian Authority from travelling to New York.
The text also reminds the United States of the agreement signed with the organization because it is the host country, which obliges them not to prevent diplomatic trips to the headquarters of the organization in New York.
A few days ago, UN Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric assured them that they have “continuous dialogue” with the United States to encourage them to fulfil their obligations under the Host Country Agreement.
In turn, the U.S. State Department announced today that the Iranian delegation, which a few days ago denounced not having received the permits to enter the country, may attend High Level Week, but will face travel restrictions.