Nebenzia said during a UN Security Council meeting: “We call on Washington to reconsider its decision to deny visas to members of the Palestinian delegation participating in the high-level week of the General Assembly.” The U.S. State Department announced on August 29 that it will cancel or deny visas, including for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, before the UN General Assembly session. According to internal documents from last August, Rubio signed recommendations to prevent visas from being granted to senior officials of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. In a related context, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Beigott said at the time that the decision is in compliance with U.S. laws and in consideration of national security interests, confirming the cancellation of visas for Palestinian leaders before the UN meetings.
