US extends visa curbs on Palestine officials, blocks President Abbas from UN General Assembly

The United States has extended visa restrictions on Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization, preventing President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian officials from travelling to the US ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.According to Reuters, the US state department said it had determined that the Palestinian Authority and PLO continued to engage in actions that Washington considers inconsistent with commitments made under US laws. The restrictions come ahead of the annual UN gathering, where Palestinian statehood and the Israel-Palestinian conflict are expected to remain major issues.The state department said the Palestinian leadership had continued to pursue measures against Israel through international bodies, including the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.