The European Union has made a formal appeal to the United States, urging it to reconsider its recent decision to deny visas to members of the Palestinian Authority (PA). This request was articulated by Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, during a ministers' meeting in Copenhagen. Kallas highlighted the necessity of adherence to international law and existing agreements, particularly with the upcoming 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

France, a key EU member and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has also stepped into the fray, announcing its decision to recognize Palestine as a state at the forthcoming UN gathering. This move aligns with broader EU sentiments on the Palestinian statehood issue and adds weight to the call for the US to alter its stance.

The US State Department had previously stated that the visa denials and revocations for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the PA were based on national security concerns and alleged non-compliance by these bodies with their international commitments. According to the US, this measure aims to hold the PLO and PA accountable and is purported to safeguard the prospects for peace.

Despite these restrictions, the US confirmed that the PA mission to the UN would receive waivers as per the UN Headquarters Agreement. However, this exemption does not extend to PA President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials, whose entry into the US remains barred. Abbas' office has condemned this move, labeling it a clear contradiction of international law and the UN Headquarters Agreement.

This agreement, established in 1947 when the UN's headquarters were set up in New York, includes provisions that the US should not impose transit impediments on individuals invited by the UN. It specifies that visas should be granted promptly and without charge.

This is not the first time the US has refused entry to Palestinian leaders. In 1988, the US denied a visa to Yasser Arafat, leading to Geneva hosting meetings related to Palestine. Currently, Palestine holds the status of a "permanent observer state" at the UN, with 147 out of 193 member states recognizing its statehood.

As the UN General Assembly approaches, the international community watches closely, anticipating potential diplomatic shifts and their implications for Middle Eastern geopolitics and beyond.