US threatens to revoke visas for Palestinian UN delegation – report

Trump administration reportedly demands the Palestinian Authority’s envoy to the United Nations drop his bid to become vice president of the UN General Assembly.

By World Israel News Staff

The Trump administration has threatened to revoke visas for Palestinian diplomats at the United Nations unless Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour withdraws his candidacy for a vice presidency of the UN General Assembly, according to reports citing an internal State Department cable.

The warning marks a new escalation in Washington’s campaign to block Palestinian efforts to gain symbolic standing at the United Nations, where the Palestinians hold observer-state status but do not have a vote.

A State Department cable issued on Tuesday and obtained by NPR instructed US diplomats in Jerusalem to pressure Palestinian Authority officials to drop Mansour’s bid for one of the General Assembly’s vice presidential posts before the June 2 election.

The cable said Mansour’s candidacy “fuels tensions” and risks undermining President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

“To be clear, we will hold the PA responsible if the Palestinian delegation does not withdraw its VPGA candidacy,” the cable said.

The cable also pointed to Washington’s earlier decision to waive visa restrictions for Palestinian officials assigned to the PLO’s UN Observer Mission in New York.

“It would be unfortunate to have to revisit any available options,” the cable said.

The State Department did not comment on the specific visa threat, but told NPR and Reuters that it takes its obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement seriously. “Due to visa record confidentiality, we have no comment on Department actions with respect to specific cases,” the department said.

The US is required under the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement to allow access for diplomats conducting UN business in New York, though Washington has previously cited security grounds to deny entry to certain foreign officials.

NPR said the threat to revoke the Palestinian UN ambassador’s visa is unprecedented.

Mansour had already withdrawn a bid for the more prominent post of General Assembly president in February after US lobbying.

But US officials remain concerned that, even as a vice president, he could be asked to preside over high-profile sessions during the next General Assembly, including Middle East debates.

“In a worst-case scenario, the next PGA might assist the Palestinians in presiding over high-profile sessions related to the Middle East or during UNGA81 high-level week,” the cable said.

The cable accused the Palestinian Authority of prioritizing symbolic international posts over direct engagement with Washington. “A bully pulpit for Mansour would not improve the lives of Palestinians and would significantly damage US relations with the PA. Congress will take it extremely seriously,” it said.

The Palestinian Authority did not immediately comment. NPR said Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas’s office declined comment, and Reuters said the Palestinian UN mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment.