Secretary of State Marco Rubio has approved the denial of visas for senior Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) officials to attend the United Nations General Assembly in September, citing U.S. laws against recognizing Palestinian statehood and sanctions against the PA for its ties to terrorism.
According to internal documents reviewed by Fox News, Rubio has signed off on recommendations that would block visas for senior officials of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), including PA President Mahmoud Abbas. The State Department emphasized that the decision is in line with U.S. laws and national security interests, particularly the findings under the Palestinian Liberation Organization Commitments Compliance Act (PLOCCA) and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act (MEPCA), which state that the PA and PLO are non-compliant with U.S. commitments due to their unilateral declarations of statehood, glorification of violence, promotion of antisemitism, and material support to terrorists.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated in a statement on Friday that the actions taken are a reflection of the U.S. commitment to ensure that the PA and PLO meet the necessary conditions before being considered as potential partners for peace. These conditions include repudiating terrorism, lawfare campaigns at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ), and ceasing the pursuit of unilateral recognition of statehood. The statement also highlights the United States’ openness to re-engaging with the PA/PLO if they demonstrate concrete steps towards constructive engagement.
This decision marks a significant shift from prior U.S. practices of granting visas on a case-by-case basis, including for members of the Iranian delegation. Officials acknowledge that this is the first time the U.S. has barred an entire delegation from attending the UN General Assembly, justifying the unprecedented move due to the planned use of the September forum by Palestinian leaders to push for a constitutional declaration of independence, seen as a propaganda victory for Hamas and a threat to ceasefire talks in Gaza.
The recommendations also call for the rejection of visa applications from Palestinian officials, the declining of a waiver for Abbas himself, and the revocation of existing visas for PLO and PA members issued before July 3, 1981. However, an exception is made for permanent staff and dependents at the Palestinian U.N. Observer Mission, who are allowed to remain under U.S. obligations to the UN Headquarters Agreement.
U.S. officials argue that granting waivers would undermine the credibility of existing sanctions, potentially emboldening the PA to pursue unilateral recognition efforts. Conversely, enforcing the visa bans is described as a ‘low-cost, high-impact action’ to reinforce U.S. policy. This decision comes amid ongoing tensions between Washington and the United Nations over Israel-related issues, particularly after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
The United States has utilized its Security Council veto power dozens of times to block resolutions critical of Israel, a record that exceeds the usage of any other permanent member for a single ally. This context underscores the broader geopolitical implications of Rubio’s decision, which could lead to a potential conflict with international bodies and U.S. allies that continue to recognize Palestinian representatives.