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European Union Urges United States to Lift Travel Restrictions on Palestinian UNGA Delegation
Just the facts
The U.S. Department of State extended visa sanctions preventing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestine Liberation Organization officials from entering the country to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York. European Union diplomatic spokesman Anouar El Anouni stated that host nation obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement require reconsideration of the travel restrictions. Following the U.S. visa decision, the UN General Assembly voted to allow President Abbas to address the assembly via a pre-recorded video presentation. State Department officials stated that the visa denials were based on Palestinian Authority actions in international courts and non-compliance with requested governance reforms.
Why this is news
The European Union and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the United States to reconsider visa denials issued to Palestinian Authority officials for the 81st UN General Assembly session.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.