US blocks Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from UN General Assembly

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The United States has blocked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from attending the UN General Assembly in person for the second consecutive year, a move Palestinians view as an attempt to marginalize them at the international stage. While this exclusion prevents Abbas from speaking directly on the floor, it does not necessarily alter the diplomatic landscape or prevent him from delivering a video message if permitted by the vote. The American administration argues that President Abbas cannot simultaneously demand recognition as a serious leader while allegedly paying salaries to the families of convicted terrorists and promoting terrorism; therefore, his continued presence is contingent upon changing this policy. Consequently, the US stance suggests that as long as such actions continue, Abbas will not be welcomed at the UN or in the United States, signaling a desire for the Palestinian leadership to abandon what they describe as a culture of hate. In contrast to the controversy surrounding Abbas's absence, the focus of the General Assembly shifts toward broader global threats and Israel's strategic messaging. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to deliver a significant speech later in the week, which officials believe will carry more weight than the Palestinian issue given current geopolitical priorities like the war between Russia and Ukraine and the threat posed by Iran to Gulf nations. This environment allows Israel to highlight its growing military cooperation with Arab states, such as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, marking six years since the Abraham Accords were signed. The narrative being constructed is one where former adversaries now unite against common threats, aiming to secure attention for critical global issues rather than allowing the Palestinian cause to dominate the agenda in the same manner as previous years. Beyond the immediate political maneuvers, a key theme emerging from the discussions is the urgent need to address anti-semitism within the United Nations itself. As the UN prepares to elect new leadership, including a potential new Secretary General, there is a strong call to make combating anti-semitism a top priority in the selection process and institutional reforms. Advocates argue that while criticism of Israel is legitimate, it must not cross the line into anti-semitism, a distinction that requires clear education for UN staff and member states. The initiative launched by Ambassador Denon emphasizes that mere declarations are insufficient; instead, there must be concrete actions to identify and remove officials involved in anti-semitism and to implement measures that protect against hate speech within the organization's own institutions. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that the UN effectively monitors and fights these issues through tangible steps rather than just rhetorical commitments.

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Well, this is the second year in a row that Abbas won't be allowed to attend the General Assembly, at least in person. Palestinians say this is an attempt to sideline them at the United Nations. But does Abbas being kept out of the room actually change anything diplomatically? Or on the flip side, could it simply hand Ramala another grievance to take to the world? >> I think it is the right decision of the United States. President Abbas cannot play that game that one day he comes and he wants to speak in international organizations and and that he will be treated as a serious leader and the second day it actually promoting terrorism paying salaries to the families of convicted terrorists that's cannot work. I think it is a right decision and he wanted to be here to meet with head of state to speak in the general assembly. So he will send a video and he should know that as long as he will continue to pay terrorist he will send videos. He will not be welcome to the US he will not be welcome in the UN and I think it's about time that he will change the course of the culture of hate of the Palestinian leadership >> whether he uh is able to ascend send in a video or not. I understand there's a vote on that happening in the UN today. But still, we have Israel. We have Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking perhaps the same day that this video is being aired. How does that impact Israel's message to the UN? >> There is no impact. You know, there are two interesting speeches during the general assembly. The first one is a speech of President Trump that will speak on Tuesday morning New York time and the second interesting speech is a speech of the prime minister that will speak on Thursday afternoon New York time. It will be night time in Israel. So people will tune up will listen to the prime minister. And we're frankly saying today the Palestinian issue will not be the most important issue here. I I know the Palestinians are not happy about it. But today you have the the threat of Iran to the world to the Gulf countries. You have the war between Russia and Ukraine and still their attempt to to bring this issue back to the agenda. So there will be few side events from France initiative and other countries but it will will not be like last year. >> Well, Prime Minister Netanyahu is always known for his props at the general assembly. Ambassador Denon, any idea what the prime minister will be using this year or even what his focus is going to be on? Well, I cannot tell you that, but I would say that that the prime minister understands that there is a a platform, a very important platform to send the message. And I think now that he's building the speech, he will make sure to to draw the narrative and basically to get the attention deserved for the important issues, not only for Israel, for the entire world. You know, in the last few days, I had very good meetings with many with of my colleagues from the Gulf countries. We marked six years for the Abraham Accords. And to see the way the Amiratis, the Baharanas, they speak about the military cooperation with Israel. You know, when I was here back then in 2015 before we signed the Accords, no one would believe that you would see the day that Israel and Arab countries will cooperate against Iran. >> It truly is incredible. Ambassador Denon, I also wanted to ask you about a new initiative that you helped launch, a task force on combating anti-semitism. You're calling for combating anti-semitism to become a priority in the selection process for the next UN Secretary General. [clears throat] Why do you believe that this is the top priority right now? >> So exactly now when the UN is electing new leadership, not only secretary general, you know, the entire leadership will be replaced. I think it's time to to demand that change. You know, we have seen anti-semitism not only in in the on universities and the streets of New York. We have seen it in the whole of the United Nations. And that's why we need to reform it. We need to monitor it and and we had a very successful meeting. More than 60 countries attended that meeting. And my goal that it will not be only declarations because there is a lot of declarations regarding this important issue but not enough actions. So we want to see actions within the UN and the member states adapting measures to fight anti-semitism. >> Where does that action actually start? How should the UN address anti-semitism within its own institutions? >> So further they have to recognize the problem to identify it. They have to remove individuals who were involved with anti-semitism. UN officials and I have the documentation. We actually expose some of those officials and will continue to do that. And they have to focus on education, educating the UN staff. You know, it's legitimate to criticize Israel, but there is a line that you shouldn't cross. And many times you see that the criticism against Israel becomes anti-semitism. And I think you have to educate the people here about that line.