Palestinian officials accuse US of ignoring reforms after Abbas barred from UN visit

Palestinian officials have accused the United States of ignoring their reform efforts after PA President Mahmoud Abbas was denied a visa to attend the UN General Assembly in New York for the second consecutive year. A senior Palestinian official stated, "It is clear that the US has taken a position without considering the details," suggesting the decision was political, stemming from the PA's diplomatic moves at international institutions and efforts to gain recognition for a Palestinian state. The US State Department cited the PLO and PA's failure to meet commitments, including internationalizing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the ICC and ICJ, seeking unilateral recognition, and continuing payments to terrorists, as reasons for extending visa sanctions. Abbas's office rejected the US stance, asserting that resorting to international institutions is a legitimate right and that international recognition of Palestine supports self-determination and a just peace.