US Reportedly Threatens to Withdraw Visa for Palestinian Delegation at the UN

Palestinian envoy to the UN Riyad Mansour. (Source: UN News)

JAKARTA - The United States threatened to revoke the visas of members of the Palestinian delegation at the United Nations unless Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour withdrew his candidacy for Vice President of the UN General Assembly, according to a report on Wednesday.

NPR reported, citing a State Department cable dated May 19, US diplomats in Jerusalem were instructed to pressure Palestinian officials to withdraw Mansour's candidacy for one of the 21 vice president positions in the UN General Assembly or face possible consequences, including visa revocation.

According to the report, the wire described Mansour as a person who had "a history of accusing Israel of genocide" and said his candidacy "triggered tensions" and undermined US President Donald Trump's "peace" plan in the Gaza Strip, Palestine.

"The post that gives influence to Mansour will not improve the lives of Palestinians and will significantly damage US relations with the Palestinian Authority (PA). Congress will take it very seriously," the cable read, according to Anadolu (21/5).

A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on the report, citing "the confidentiality of visa records."

"We take seriously our obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement," the spokesperson said.

Last year, the Trump administration revoked the visas of Palestinian officials, banning them from attending the UN General Assembly in September in New York.

The move comes in response to several Western countries preparing to announce their recognition of the Palestinian state at the General Assembly.