U.S. Blocks Abu Mazen From Entering for the U.N. General Assembly, Citing ‘Glorification of Terror’

The United States announced overnight (between Wednesday and Thursday) that it will not grant entry visas to Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen and members of his delegation ahead of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. This is the second consecutive year that Washington has prevented him from entering the country.

The U.S. State Department said the decision was based on Palestinian officials’ failure to meet commitments they had undertaken as part of previous agreements aimed at advancing peace with Israel. Among other things, Washington pointed to Palestinian Authority efforts to pursue proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, as well as the continued payment of stipends to the families of prisoners convicted of terrorist attacks against Israelis.

Under the U.N. “Headquarters Agreement,” the United States is generally required to allow foreign diplomats access to the organization’s headquarters. However, Washington maintains that it is permitted to refuse to issue visas on the grounds of security, terrorism, extremism, and foreign policy.

Last year, the General Assembly approved, by a vote of 145 countries in favor, five opposed, and six abstentions, allowing Abu Mazen to deliver a prerecorded address. The United States and Israel opposed the measure. The decision was limited to the 80th session, so a new vote is required this year.

Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, said: “Abu Mazen cannot continue paying terrorists, rewarding terrorists’ families, and promoting a culture that glorifies terror, and then be surprised when doors are closed to him. Anyone who wants to be part of the international community must first behave accordingly. You cannot reward terror with one hand and demand international legitimacy with the other.”