"The State of Palestine may submit a prerecorded statement of its President, which will be played in the General Assembly Hall, said the resolution, which passed on Friday with 145 votes in favour, five opposed, and six abstentions. The move comes weeks after the Palestinian Authority urged Washington to reinstate Abbas's visa so that he could travel to the United States to lead the Palestinian delegation and address the UNGA in person."
"Abbas was among 80 Palestinian officials whose visas were revoked by the US State Department, citing national security concerns. The General Assembly speeches are scheduled to begin on Tuesday after leaders gather on Monday for a summit hosted by France and Saudi Arabia that aims to build momentum towards a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Gaza is issue number one at the UN General Assembly, Al Jazeera's Diplomatic Editor James Bays reported from New York."
"Bays said the overwhelming vote in favour of Abbas addressing the UNGA by video was a snapshot of international opinion on Palestine and Gaza, and that it showed very few countries that are backing the side of Israel and the US. The Trump administration's decision has received widespread criticism, with the UN asserting that it violates the Host Country Agreement, under which the US is obligated to permit heads of state and government to travel to New York for annual meetings and diplomatic business."
The United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution allowing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to submit a prerecorded statement to be played in the General Assembly Hall after the United States denied him a visa. The resolution passed with 145 votes in favour, five opposed and six abstentions. About 80 Palestinian officials, including Abbas, had visas revoked by the US State Department on national security grounds. Leaders will gather for a summit hosted by France and Saudi Arabia and the General Assembly speeches will follow, with Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict central to the agenda.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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