Reactions to US Revocation of Abbas's Visa

The US has announced that it will not allow Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The decision affects approximately 80 Palestinians, members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority.

Abbas's office expressed surprise at the decision, arguing that it violates the 'headquarters agreement' of the United Nations. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, Abbas's spokesman, called on Washington to reconsider its decision.

European Foreign Ministers, at a meeting in Copenhagen, criticized the American decision. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that a UN General Assembly 'cannot be subject to any restriction on access.' Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his support for Abbas and called the decision 'unfair'.

United Nations spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said that the UN will discuss the issue with the State Department.