MACRON TO U.S.: ALLOW PALESTINIANS TO HAVE A VISA, NOT JUST A VETO

French President Emmanuel Macron has criticized the United States for blocking visas for Palestinian officials, including President Mahmoud Abbas, to attend the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Macron termed the move as "unacceptable" and emphasized the importance of allowing Palestinian leaders to participate in international discussions, particularly in light of the ongoing Middle East peace process.

The U.S. decision to deny visas to the Palestinian officials reportedly comes as part of a broader pressure campaign against the Palestinian Authority (PA) over its criticism of the Trump administration's policies in the region, which have been heavily skewed in favor of Israel. This move is seen as a significant barrier to the Palestinian leadership's ability to engage in diplomacy and advocate for their cause on the global stage.

Macron's comments were made in the context of an upcoming conference on the Two-State Solution that France is co-hosting with Saudi Arabia's crown prince. The French leader's message was clear: there should be no unilateral annexation of Palestinian territories by Israel, no displacement of Palestinian people, and no justifications for failing to support a peaceful resolution to the decades-long conflict.

The Two-State Solution conference aims to bring together various stakeholders to discuss and reaffirm their commitment to a two-state solution, which envisions an independent Palestinian state coexisting alongside Israel. The U.S. has not yet commented on whether it will participate in the conference, given its recent actions that have been widely perceived as undermining the Palestinian position, such as the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and the proposed peace plan that heavily favors Israel.

The U.S. decision to restrict Palestinian officials' travel to the UNGA is likely to add tension to an already strained relationship between the Palestinian leadership and the U.S. government. It remains to be seen whether the U.S. will reconsider its visa policy in response to international criticism or if this will further marginalize the Palestinian voice in international forums. The UNGA is a critical platform for world leaders to address international issues, and the exclusion of key Palestinian figures could be detrimental to advancing peace talks and resolving the long-standing Middle East crisis.