The United Nations General Assembly approved by 152 votes to 3 a resolution rejecting US measures targeting the participation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation in the meeting. The resolution allows Abbas, whom the United States denied a visa, to address the General Assembly’s 81st session next week by video.
In a written statement after the vote, Rawhi Fattouh, chairman of the Palestinian Central Council, said the result demonstrated that efforts to isolate Palestine internationally and restrict its presence at the United Nations had been rejected.
Fattouh called on the US administration to reverse its decision and allow Abbas and the Palestinian delegation to attend the General Assembly’s annual session. He said efforts to pressure and exclude Palestine could not halt its presence on the international stage.

Fattouh said Palestine would continue to defend the Palestinian people’s national rights, foremost among them the rights to freedom, independence, self-determination and the establishment of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital. He said those rights would not be abandoned.
Fattouh argued that the international community no longer accepted double standards or the use of political influence to shield the occupation from accountability. He said the US administration’s decision contradicted the UN Charter and international obligations.
Fattouh said the conviction was growing that occupation, annexation, settlement activity, forced displacement and racism could not form the basis of peace. He said these practices could not replace the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.