Palestinian President’s Office Says US Decision To Revoke His Visa Will ‘Increase Tension And Escalation’

RAMALLAH, West Financial institution (AP) — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ workplace on Saturday urged the U.S. authorities to reverse its uncommon determination to revoke his visa, weeks earlier than he was meant to look on the U.N.’s major annual assembly and a world convention about creating a Palestinian state.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio rescinded the visas of Abbas and 80 different officers forward of subsequent month’s annual high-level assembly of the U.N. Normal Meeting, the State Division disclosed Friday. Abbas has addressed the Normal Meeting for a few years, and customarily leads the Palestinian delegation.

“We name upon the American administration to reverse its determination. This determination will solely enhance pressure and escalation,” Palestinian presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh instructed The Related Press in Ramallah on Saturday.

“We’ve got been in touch since yesterday with Arab and overseas international locations, particularly these instantly involved with this concern. This effort will proceed across the clock,” he mentioned.

He urged different international locations to place stress on the Trump administration to reverse the choice, notably the international locations which have organized a high-level convention on Sept. 22 about reviving efforts for a two-state solution for the Center East. It’s co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.

French Overseas Minister Jean-Noël Barrot protested restrictions on entry to the U.N. Normal Meeting, and mentioned he would talk about the difficulty with EU counterparts.

“The United Nations headquarters is a spot of neutrality, a sanctuary devoted to peace, the place conflicts are resolved,” he mentioned Saturday. “The UN Normal Meeting … can’t endure any restrictions on entry.”

Abu Rudeineh additionally urged an finish to Israel’s offensive in Gaza and “escalation within the West Financial institution, as a result of none of this may result in any answer.”

The Trump administration has taken a number of steps to focus on Palestinians with visa restrictions.

“It’s in our nationwide safety pursuits to carry the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Group) and PA (Palestinian Authority) accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace,” the State Division mentioned in an announcement.

The Palestinian Authority denounced the visa withdrawals as a violation of U.S. commitments because the host nation of the United Nations. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric mentioned the world physique can be searching for clarification from the State Division.

Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed.