Trump administration pressures Palestinian UN envoy to drop General Assembly vice-presidency bid
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Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour had already withdrawn his candidacy for the presidency of the General Assembly as a result of US lobbying in February.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump’s administration threatened to revoke the visas of the Palestinian delegation to the UN if the Palestinian ambassador refuses to end his candidacy for the vice-presidency of the UN General Assembly, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters.
In a cable dated May 21, US diplomats at its embassy in Jerusalem were instructed to deliver the message that Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour’s General Assembly bid “fuels tensions”, risks undermining Mr Trump’s Gaza peace plan, and would therefore face consequences from Washington if it went ahead.
“To be clear, we will hold the PA responsible if the Palestinian delegation does not withdraw its VPGA (vice-president of the UN General Assembly) candidacy,” the cable, marked sensitive but unclassified, said, referring to the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank.
Among the talking points provided in the cable to US diplomats, the State Department’s September 2025 decision to waive visa sanctions for Palestinian officials assigned to the Palestinian UN mission in New York was noted.
“It would be unfortunate to have to revisit any available options,” said the cable, which NPR first reported.
The Palestinian mission at the UN did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“We take seriously our obligations under the UN headquarters agreement,” a State Department spokesperson said. “Due to visa record confidentiality, we have no comment on department actions with respect to specific cases.”
Mr Trump’s plan for Gaza, shattered after more than two years of war, has been held up by a refusal by Hamas to lay down its weapons and by continued Israeli attacks in Gaza that have undermined an October ceasefire.
Israeli forces still occupy more than half of Gaza’s territory, where they have demolished most remaining buildings and ordered all residents out.
Mr Mansour had already withdrawn his candidacy for the presidency of the General Assembly as a result of US lobbying in February, the cable said, but added that if elected to the lower-profile vice-presidency, he could still preside over General Assembly sessions.
“Therefore, there is still a risk that the Palestinians could preside over GA sessions during UNGA81 unless they withdraw from the race,” the cable said, referring to the UN General Assembly’s 81st annual high-level week to be convened in September.
“In a worst-case scenario, the next PGA might assist the Palestinians in presiding over high-profile sessions related to the Middle East or during UNGA81 high-level week,” it said.
The election of the UN General Assembly president and the 16 delegations that will serve as vice-presidents will be held on June 2.
The Palestinian Authority – which represents the Palestinian people at the UN, where the delegation is officially known as the State of Palestine – is not a full member and has no vote in the 193-member General Assembly.
It is an observer state, holding the same status as the Holy See (Vatican). REUTERS
