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EU urges Washington to reconsider Palestinian visa decision
The European Union called on Saturday for the United States to “reconsider” its refusal to grant visas to Palestinian officials planning to attend the UN General Assembly in New York this September.
“We urgently request that this decision be reconsidered in light of international law,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in Copenhagen after a meeting of the 27 EU foreign ministers.
Washington announced on Friday that it would “revoke and deny” visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority ahead of the UN gathering, where France is expected to advocate for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned the move, stating that “the United Nations headquarters is a place of neutrality … a sanctuary for peace.” Luxembourg’s Xavier Bettel also called for a solution, suggesting a special UN session in Geneva to ensure Palestinian participation.
If confirmed, Washington’s measure would further align the Trump administration with Israel, which rejects the idea of a Palestinian state and equates the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority with Hamas in Gaza.
The EU’s condemnation of the visa refusal was one of the few points of consensus among the 27 member states, who have struggled to agree on sanctions against Israel amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.