Palestinian president's office urges US to reinstate his visa ahead of key UN meetings [View all]

Source: AP

By IMAD ISSEID
Updated 10:59 AM CDT, August 30, 2025

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The Palestinian president’s office on Saturday urged the U.S. government to reverse its unusual decision to revoke his visa, weeks before he was meant to appear at the U.N.’s main annual meeting and an international conference about creating a Palestinian state.

The 27-nation European Union asked the Trump administration to reconsider the move, which drew broad criticism.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio rescinded the visas of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials ahead of next month’s annual high-level meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, the State Department disclosed Friday, citing national security interests. Abbas has addressed the General Assembly for many years, and generally leads the Palestinian delegation.

“We call upon the American administration to reverse its decision. This decision will only increase tension and escalation,” Palestinian presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh told The Associated Press in Ramallah on Saturday.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-abbas-us-visas-revoked-un-71e7ad94620c23398533391329f5c544