US Pressures Palestinians over UN Leadership Bid

The administration of US President Donald Trump reportedly threatened to revoke visas for members of the Palestinian delegation to the United Nations unless a Palestinian candidate withdrew from the race for vice president of the UN General Assembly, according to an internal US State Department cable reviewed by Reuters.

The diplomatic cable, dated Wednesday, instructed US officials at the American embassy in Jerusalem to deliver a message warning that the candidacy of Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour risked escalating tensions and undermining Washington’s Gaza peace initiative.

According to the document, US officials warned that the Palestinian Authority could face consequences from Washington if Mansour continued his campaign for the senior UN post.

The cable also referenced a 2025 US decision to lift visa sanctions previously imposed on Palestinian officials assigned to the Palestinian mission at the United Nations in New York, suggesting those measures could potentially be reconsidered.

Neither the Palestinian mission to the UN nor US officials provided detailed public comment on the report, although the State Department said it takes its obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement seriously while declining to discuss individual visa matters.

The development comes amid continuing diplomatic tensions surrounding the war in Gaza Strip and stalled US-backed efforts to secure a long-term ceasefire and political settlement.

Reuters reported that Mansour had previously withdrawn a bid for the presidency of the General Assembly earlier this year following US pressure. However, the cable suggested Washington remains concerned that even as vice president, a Palestinian representative could preside over high-level UN sessions during the organization's 81st General Assembly session scheduled for September.

The election for the next president of the UN General Assembly and its 16 vice presidents is due to take place on June 2.

The Palestinian delegation to the United Nations, formally known as the State of Palestine observer mission, holds non-member observer status and does not possess voting rights in the 193-member General Assembly, similar to the status held by the Vatican City.