Palestinian officials say the United States has again refused to issue visas for Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority.

Following this decision, Abbas will, for the second year in a row, be forced to deliver his speech to the United Nations General Assembly online.

Dozens of other Palestinian officials who were supposed to travel with him to New York have also not received travel visas.

In a statement, the US State Department accused the Palestinian Authority and other organizations of “failure to carry out reforms.” The ministry said that holding them accountable for “celebrating terrorism” is in line with US national interests.

The meeting of the United Nations General Assembly will begin next week at the organization’s headquarters in New York. 📷Reuters