UN allows Palestinian president to again speak via video after US denies visa

• The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address its upcoming high-level meetings by video after the United States denied him a visa for the second consecutive year.
• The United States cited its restrictions on Palestinian officials, while the Palestinian side called the decision unjustified and said it undermines efforts toward a two-state solution.

The United Nations General Assembly voted Thursday to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to participate remotely and deliver his address by video, after the United States again denied him a visa to attend the annual meetings in New York in person.

The resolution passed by an overwhelming majority, with 152 countries voting in favor, three against and four abstaining, according to the reported vote. The measure also allows Abbas and other senior Palestinian officials to participate remotely in UN events over the coming year if they are unable to travel to the United States.

The decision follows the US refusal, for the second consecutive year, to grant Abbas an entry visa for the UN General Assembly's high-level meetings.

Washington has maintained visa restrictions on Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization officials, citing its concerns over Palestinian efforts to pursue international legal action and what it says are failures to meet governance and peace-related commitments.

Palestinian officials have rejected the US position, describing the visa restrictions as unjustified and arguing that they undermine Palestinian-US relations and efforts to advance a two-state solution.

The UN General Assembly's high-level week is scheduled to take place from September 22–29, with the general debate running from September 22–26 and September 28.

The vote comes amid continued diplomatic efforts over the Palestinian issue, as governments prepare for the annual gathering of world leaders in New York.