Europe condemns US visa denial to Palestinian leaders ahead of UNGA

France has led the way among other European countries in condemning Washington’s decision to block visa access to members of the Palestinian Authority.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Saturday said, “A UN General Assembly meeting… should not be subject to any restrictions on access.”

Barrot’s comment came during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Denmark. A string of ministers in Copenhagen echoed France’s call for the United States to allow access to the Palestinian delegation.

France is leading a push to recognise the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly meeting next month in New York, where US President Donald Trump is expected to deliver an address.

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The US State Department on Friday denied visa access to PA President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other members, effectively meaning that they would not be able to attend the UNGA meeting in September.

Abbas had planned to attend the annual high-level UNGA in Manhattan. He was also set to attend a summit there, where Britain, France, Australia and Canada have pledged to formally recognise a Palestinian state.

Abbas’ office said it was astonished by the visa decision and said it violated the U.N. “headquarters agreement.”

Under a 1947 UN “headquarters agreement,” the US is generally required to allow access for foreign diplomats to the UN in New York. Washington, however, has said it can deny visas for security, extremism and foreign policy reasons.

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France’s Barrot’s comment was followed by Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, who said the US move was “unacceptable.” Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris said the EU should protest the decision “in the strongest possible terms.”

The Palestinian Authority called for the United States to reverse its decision, which it said “stands in clear contradiction to international law and the UN Headquarters Agreement”.

Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas, a veteran 89-year-old leader who once had cordial relations with Washington, had planned to attend the UN meeting.

With inputs from agencies