Harry Archie
The United States has denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a visa to attend next week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The decision means Abbas and some members of the Palestinian delegation will not be able to attend the annual UN meeting in person.
The US decision comes at a time of continued international attention on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, particularly the situation in Gaza.
The UN General Assembly brings together leaders and representatives from countries around the world to discuss major international issues.
The visa decision could prevent the Palestinian leadership from taking part directly in discussions at the meeting.
Abbas has been a major figure in Palestinian politics and has represented the Palestinian Authority in international diplomatic engagements.
The development is expected to attract further attention because of the importance of the UN General Assembly to discussions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the wider Middle East.
