00:00The United States has denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a visa to attend the UN General Assembly in New York
00:07next week for the second year in a row.
00:09The State Department says it will extend visa sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization,
00:19accusing them of actions that undermine prospects for peace.
00:25The move means Abbas will again be unable to address world leaders in person after he was also denied a
00:31visa for last year's General Assembly.
00:34The 193-member UN General Assembly is expected to vote on whether Abbas can submit a video statement, as he
00:42did last year.
00:43The Palestinian Authority has condemned the decision, saying it undermines Palestinian-US relations and efforts to create the condition for
00:51a two-state solution.
00:52Washington says the visa restrictions target Palestinian officials it accuses of undermining peace efforts.
00:59Palestine has observer state status at the United Nations, but does not have a vote in the General Assembly.
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