Nigeria has joined 144 other United Nations (UN) member states in adopting a resolution that allows Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to deliver his General Assembly address via pre-recorded video.
The move followed the United States’ refusal to grant visas to members of the Palestinian delegation.
The resolution was adopted with 145 votes in favour, five against — including Israel, the U.S., Nauru, Palau, and Paraguay — and six abstentions from Albania, Fiji, Hungary, North Macedonia, Panama, and Papua New Guinea.
Under the measure, Abbas may submit a video statement that will be introduced in the Assembly Hall by one of Palestine’s representatives in New York. The resolution also permits live or pre-recorded video addresses during the high-level meeting on the two-State solution and similar gatherings. These arrangements are limited to the Assembly’s current 80th session.
In a related development, the General Assembly unanimously approved a Saudi-sponsored decision granting Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman permission to deliver a statement by video at the September 22 high-level conference.
Earlier, the U.S. Department of State announced on August 29 that it had revoked and denied visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the Palestinian Authority, citing national security concerns and alleged failures to comply with previous commitments. The U.S. also accused Palestinian leaders of undermining peace efforts.