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U.S. Threatens Visa Loss to Push Palestinian UN Envoy Off Vice‑President Ballot

Washington says the warning is meant to curb Palestinian procedural power at the United Nations and protect its Gaza peace efforts.

Riyad H. Mansour, Palestinian Permanent Observer to the United Nations, shakes hands with Eloy Alfaro de Alba, Permanent Representative of Panama to the UN, before a Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., February 18, 2026. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo
Riyad H. Mansour, Palestinian Permanent Observer to the United Nations, addresses the Security Council during the meeting on the situation in the Middle East, at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., February 18, 2026. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo

Overview

  • An internal State Department cable instructed U.S. diplomats to tell Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour to withdraw his bid for a General Assembly vice presidency and warned that the Palestinian delegation could face visa consequences if it did not, the cable dated May 20 revealed.
  • The cable, described as sensitive but unclassified, told diplomats the bid “fuels tensions” and said Washington could revisit a September 2025 waiver that has allowed Palestinian mission staff to receive U.S. visas for work at the UN.
  • U.S. officials argued a vice-presidency could still let the Palestinian delegation preside over General Assembly sessions, including high-profile meetings during the UNGA81 high-level week in September, which is why the administration seeks to block the candidacy.
  • A State Department spokesperson said the department takes its U.N. obligations seriously and declined to comment on specific visa records because of confidentiality, while the Palestinian mission has not publicly replied to the cable.
  • The election for the General Assembly president and 16 vice presidents is scheduled for June 2, and the dispute could raise tensions between Washington and the Palestinian Authority, affect Palestinian delegates’ travel to New York, and shape how the UN handles Gaza-related sessions.