Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The European Union has strongly criticized the recent decision by the United States to deny entry visas to Palestinian officials ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York this September, urging Washington to reverse the move on the grounds of international law and diplomatic norms.
Speaking from Copenhagen following a meeting of EU foreign ministers, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas emphasized the gravity of the issue, stating, “We all urgently request a reconsideration of this decision, based on the principles of international law.”
The U.S. State Department announced on Friday that it would revoke or deny visas to approximately 80 officials affiliated with the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), including President Mahmoud Abbas. The decision comes just weeks before the annual UN General Assembly, during which France is expected to advance its efforts for official recognition of a Palestinian state.
This move has drawn rare unity among EU member states, many of whom have been at odds over how to respond to Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza. In a joint show of concern, foreign ministers from all 27 EU nations voiced opposition to the U.S. policy, seeing it as a dangerous politicization of the United Nations and an obstacle to meaningful diplomatic dialogue.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot was among the most vocal critics, declaring from the Danish capital, “The UN headquarters is a neutral ground—sacred space devoted to peace. Participation in the General Assembly should not be subject to such restrictions.” He echoed growing concerns that limiting access to the UN undermines its role as a platform for conflict resolution and international cooperation.
Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel also denounced the American decision, warning, “We must be able to talk together. We cannot be held hostage to political agendas.” He proposed the possibility of relocating the Palestinian delegation’s participation to a special session in Geneva should the visa bans remain in place.
The controversy emerges amid escalating tensions over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and increasing international frustration with Israel’s conduct in the conflict. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen added his country’s voice to calls for tougher measures, including suspending trade agreements with Israel. “What we see in Gaza goes far beyond self-defense,” Rasmussen said. “There must be pressure to end this war and the humanitarian disaster. Israel is actively dismantling the two-state solution.”
Observers suggest that the visa restrictions reflect the deepening alignment between the Biden administration and the Israeli government. The move has been interpreted by some as an effort to marginalize the Palestinian leadership on the international stage, casting them in the same light as Hamas and sidelining any formal diplomatic representation at a critical time.
Despite ongoing internal divisions over sanctions and policy tools, the EU’s firm and unified response to the visa bans indicates growing unease with Washington’s Middle East posture and signals a potential shift toward more assertive European diplomacy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As the international community gears up for what is expected to be a pivotal UN General Assembly session, the controversy underscores a larger debate about access, neutrality, and the future of multilateral diplomacy in a rapidly polarizing world.
