UNITED NATIONS — The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to permit Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the body via video link, directly overriding a U.S. visa denial that prevented his travel to New York for the annual session.
The resolution passed 142 to 10, with 28 abstentions. Key European allies—France, Germany and Spain—voted in favor, signaling broad international support for Palestinian representation despite U.S. objections.
The U.S. State Department had denied Abbas entry, citing procedural issues and insufficient direct engagement with Israeli officials. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the United States maintains that direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are the only viable path to lasting peace.
The General Assembly resolution asserts the body's prerogative to determine its own procedures and ensure inclusive participation, effectively circumventing U.S. travel restrictions. Abbas is expected to deliver his address on Sept. 26, where he will call for full Palestinian statehood, condemn Israeli settlement expansion and appeal for international support for a two-state solution.
The diplomatic standoff complicates future U.S. efforts to broker regional peace and may prompt the Palestinian Authority to pursue international recognition through multilateral bodies rather than solely through U.S.-led frameworks.
