UN Allows Palestinian President to Address Leaders via Video Link

UN Votes to Allow Palestinian President to Address Annual Gathering via Video Link The United Nations General Assembly voted on Friday to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the annual gathering of world leaders next week in New York via video link. The decision came after US President Donald Trump announced that he would not grant visas for as many as 90 members of a Palestinian delegation due to attend both a one-day conference and the UN General Assembly high-level week. The resolution, which received 145 votes in favor and five against, with six countries abstaining, was seen as a victory for the Palestinian leadership. "This is a significant step forward for the Palestinian people," said a spokesperson for the Palestinian Mission to the UN. "We appreciate the support of our international partners and look forward to continuing our efforts towards a two-state solution." The US decision not to grant visas to the Palestinian delegation was seen as a move to pressure the Palestinians into accepting Trump's long-stalled peace plan. The plan, which has been widely criticized by the international community, envisions a Palestinian state with limited sovereignty and significant Israeli control over key areas. The conference on Monday is expected to be attended by representatives from several western states, including Canada, France, the UK, Belgium, and Australia, who are due to formally recognize Palestine. The UK's announcement of recognition was expected to be made at the conference. Background context shows that the US has been increasingly isolated in its stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In recent months, several countries have announced plans to open diplomatic missions in Ramallah, the de facto capital of the Palestinian territories, and to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. The decision by the UN General Assembly to allow Abbas to address the gathering via video link was seen as a compromise between the US and other member states. "We understand that the US has concerns about the participation of certain delegations," said a spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General. "However, we also believe that it is essential for the Palestinian leadership to be heard at this critical moment in the peace process." The current status of the situation remains uncertain, with both sides continuing to engage in diplomatic efforts. The next developments are expected to come from the conference on Monday and the high-level week of the UN General Assembly starting on Tuesday. In related news, a spokesperson for the US Mission to the UN said that the decision not to grant visas was based on "security concerns" and that the US would continue to engage with the Palestinian leadership in the coming days. *Reporting by Theguardian.*