US State Dept: Rubio is denying and revoking visas from members of Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority ahead of upcoming United Nations General Assembly

US State Dept: Rubio is denying and revoking visas from members of Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority ahead of upcoming United Nations General Assembly

The US State Department has announced that it will deny and revoke visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September. This move comes as several Western nations, including Canada, France, and the UK, have expressed their intention to recognize Palestine as a state during the UNGA session.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, during a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Berlin on August 26, stated that Germany would not recognize Palestine at the UNGA, citing unfulfilled conditions for state recognition [1]. This stance was echoed by Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), who argued that recognizing Palestinian statehood would not return hostages or end Hamas' rule in Gaza [2].

Canada, despite Germany's wavering position, has maintained its commitment to recognize Palestine, provided the Palestinian Authority meets certain conditions, such as holding general elections in 2026 and demilitarizing the state [2]. Similar moves are planned by France and the UK, despite calls from Israeli and Jewish groups to reconsider this recognition.

The US State Department's decision to deny and revoke visas for PLO and PA members may be seen as a strategic move to pressure these entities to meet the conditions for state recognition. It also aligns with the US's long-standing policy of not recognizing a Palestinian state until a peace agreement is reached between Israel and the Palestinians.

References:
[1] https://babel.ua/en/news/120899-germany-does-not-recognize-palestine-at-the-un-general-assembly
[2] https://torontosun.com/news/national/canada-holding-firm-on-recognizing-palestinian-statehood-even-as-germany-wavers