US puts pressure on Palestinian leaders to withdraw bid for UN vice-presidency role

Key Points:

• The US has directed its embassy in Jerusalem to pressure the Palestinian Authority to withdraw its bid for a vice-presidential role at the UN General Assembly, warning of consequences if they do not comply by 22 May.
• The Trump administration fears the Palestinian position could enable them to chair high-profile Middle East debates during the UNGA session starting in September, potentially undermining US policy and the administration’s peace plan.
• The Palestinians are one of four delegations contesting the Asia-Pacific group’s 16 vice-presidential seats, and the US cable noted that their previous presidential bid was withdrawn after US lobbying, but this new bid challenges that understanding.
• The US threatened potential visa revocations for Palestinian UN mission officials and linked progress on withheld tax and customs revenues to Palestinian cooperation and non-internationalization of disputes in courts.
• The Palestinian Authority’s revenue has been blocked by Israel since the Gaza war in October 2023, with Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, under ICC scrutiny, calling for the authority’s destruction.