Trump makes power play by denying Palestinian visas ahead of crucial UN meeting in NYC
Donald Trump is blocking Palestinian leaders from coming to the U.S. for the United Nations General Assembly meeting next month.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is denying visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) ahead of the gathering in New York City.
It underscores the administration's backing of Israel in its war with Hamas terrorists acting as the de facto government in Palestinian stronghold of Gaza.
Rubio said Friday: 'The Trump Administration has been clear: it is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace.'
The former Florida senator, who holds three other administrative positions while also running the State Department, said that PLO and PA cannot be 'considered partners for peace' because they refuse to denounce Hamas' terrorist activity.
Specifically, he mentioned the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack, which was the largest single-day slaughter of Jewish people since the Holocaust.
'Before the PLO and PA can be considered partners for peace, they must consistently repudiate terrorism — including the October 7 massacre — and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by U.S. law and as promised by the PLO,' Rubio wrote in a statement on the action.
Pulling visas from these members will deny their ability to push their interests amid the ongoing war with Israel.
Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller backed up the decision, claiming it was a move to prevent abuse of the U.S. visa system by terrorists.
President Donald Trump directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) to revoke and deny the visas of members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority
It comes ahead of the United Nations General Assembly meeting next month at New York City UN Headquarters
'We've been very clear when it comes to our visa system that we are going to take all necessary steps to prevent our visa system from being used by individuals who may support or espouse terrorism or terrorist activity,' he told reporters at the White House on Friday.
The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly will convene at UN headquarters in New York City next month.
Meetings between world leaders will run from September 23 through 27.
Trump will travel to New York from the White House on September 22 and speak to the assembly the following day, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15047837/trump-denies-palestinian-visas-united-nations.html
No visa for him
No comments:
Post a Comment