"UN Opens Virtual Doors for Palestinian Leader to Address Global Gathering"

UN General Assembly Allows Palestinian President to Address Leaders via Video Link Amid Visa Row with US In a decisive vote, the United Nations General Assembly has allowed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address world leaders via video link next week in New York, following a bitter dispute over visa issues. The resolution passed with 145 votes in favor and five against, while six countries abstained. The move comes after US President Donald Trump's administration refused to grant visas to the Palestinian delegation, including Abbas, to attend the annual gathering of world leaders. According to sources close to the matter, Trump had personally intervened to block the visas, citing concerns over the Palestinian Authority's refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. The UN resolution was sponsored by several countries, including Egypt and Jordan, which have long been allies of the Palestinians. The vote marked a significant victory for the Palestinian delegation, who had been lobbying intensively for weeks to secure the right to address the assembly. "This is a major breakthrough for the Palestinian people," said a senior Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We are grateful to our friends and allies in the international community who have stood by us in this difficult time." The dispute over visas had threatened to mar the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly, which is set to take place next week in New York. The assembly is a key platform for global leaders to address pressing issues, including climate change, poverty, and conflict resolution. According to sources within the US State Department, Trump's decision to block the visas was motivated by his administration's long-standing opposition to Palestinian statehood. "The President has made it clear that he will not recognize Palestine as a sovereign state until they agree to recognize Israel as a Jewish state," said a senior State Department official. However, many countries have rejected this stance, arguing that it is a matter for the Israeli and Palestinian governments to resolve through negotiations. The UK, France, and several other European countries are set to formally recognize Palestine at an upcoming conference on Monday, according to sources. The UN resolution allowing Abbas to address leaders via video link has been hailed as a major victory by the Palestinian delegation. "This is a significant step forward for our people," said a senior Palestinian official. "We will continue to work with our international partners to secure recognition and support for our cause." As the annual gathering of world leaders approaches, tensions between the US and its allies are likely to remain high. However, the UN resolution has provided a much-needed boost to the Palestinian delegation, who are seeking to build momentum for their cause in the face of growing opposition from Israel and its supporters. In related news, the upcoming conference on Monday is expected to draw significant attention from global leaders, with several countries set to formally recognize Palestine. The move is seen as a major step forward for the Palestinian people, who have been seeking international recognition for decades. The UN General Assembly's decision to allow Abbas to address leaders via video link has sent a clear message that the international community will not be swayed by US opposition to Palestinian statehood. As one senior diplomat noted, "This is a victory for the Palestinian people and a setback for those who seek to block their path to statehood." This story was compiled from reports by The Guardian and The Guardian.