PA President Abbas again denied entry visa to US for UN meeting over failure to institute reforms

The U.S. State Department has again rejected the entry visa for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to attend the UN General Assembly in New York City. 

The State Department said the move comes over the failure of the PA to “live up to commitments” to institute reforms. 

“The State Department has reported to Congress that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian Authority (PA) have, once again, failed to live up to their commitments as described in the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 (PLOCCA) and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002 (MEPCA),” the State Department said. 

Specifically, the State Department called out the PA’s actions to “internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict” through suits in the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ), and “continuing to pay stipends to terrorists and to glorify acts of terrorism and terrorists in public pronouncements and school textbooks.” 

“As a consequence of their failure to reform, contrary to their commitments to the United States, and their ongoing activities that undermine the prospects for peace, the United States will extend sanctions that deny visas to PLO members and PA officials in accordance with section 604(a)(1) of the MEPCA,” the State Department said. 

From @StateDept is news that PA & PLO denied visas for failure to make any progress towards promised reforms. Europe seems oblivious to reality US clearly sees. https://t.co/sDsRUOva8Z

— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) September 17, 2026

Last year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked the visas of Abbas and 80 other PA officials “for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace.” 

Given the failure of the PA to make any of the agreed reforms, despite promises to do so, the State Department has maintained the restrictions on entry visas for Palestinian officials this year as well. 

Members of the Palestinian Mission to the UN already possessing visas will be allowed entry to the U.S. 

The Palestinian Mission has submitted a resolution to request permission for President Abbas to address the assembly via videoconference, as was done last year. 

At the same time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering avoiding John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, in order to avoid potential interference by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, according to a story in Ynet News. 

Mamdani had previously threatened to arrest Netanyahu due tot he ICC arrest warrant issued over his alleged role in human rights violations in the Gaza War. 

While Mamdani later walked back the claim, after being warned that his office lacks any authority to enforce such a warrant, Netanyahu’s office still believes that Mamdani could seek to interfere in Netanyahu’s visit to the UNGA in some other way. 

Netanyahu’s visit is expected to have heightened security, even beyond normal measures, due to the fear of an attempt by Mamdani to detain or otherwise harass the prime minister. Both Ynet and The Jerusalem Post reported that the U.S. Secret Service will aid Netanyahu’s security detail during his visit. 

New York City Assemblyman Michael Novakhov warned Mamdani against trying to interfere with Netanyahu’s visit. 

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU IS WELCOME IN NEW YORK CITY. 🇺🇸🇮🇱

I am working directly with the White House and federal, state, and city law enforcement to help ensure the safety of the Prime Minister, his delegation, and all New Yorkers.@NYCMayor, we are watching, and if you… pic.twitter.com/dtyIZLnlNm

— Assemblyman Michael Novakhov (@MichaelforNY) September 16, 2026

“Prime Minister Netanyahu is welcome in New York City,” Novakhov wrote to his 𝕏 account. 

“Mayor [Mamdani], we are watching, and if you attempt to turn New York into your communist playground next week, you will be held accountable,” Novakhov added.