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US and Palestinian UN Delegation Conflict Over Vice President Candidacy

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US Pressures Palestinian UN Delegation to Withdraw VP Candidacy

Formal Request Issued with Threat of Visa Revocation

The United States has formally requested that the Palestinian delegation to the United Nations withdraw its candidacy for a vice president position of the UN General Assembly. The request, communicated via a State Department cable on May 19, 2025, warned of potential consequences, including visa revocation, if the candidacy was not withdrawn.

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour subsequently withdrew his candidacy following US pressure, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Background and Timeline

  • September 2024: The US waived visa sanctions for Palestinian officials assigned to the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) UN Observer Mission in New York.

  • February 2025: Ambassador Mansour withdrew a bid for president of the UN General Assembly after US lobbying.

  • May 19, 2025: The US State Department issued a sensitive but unclassified cable instructing the US Embassy in Jerusalem to formally protest the candidacy to Palestinian Authority leaders. The cable warned of unspecified consequences if the bid was not withdrawn by May 22.

  • June 2, 2025: Elections for the vice president positions were scheduled to take place.

US Position and Potential Consequences

The US cable stated that Ambassador Mansour "has a history of accusing Israel of genocide" and that his candidacy "fuels tension" and undermines President Trump's peace plan for Gaza.

The cable also stated that "a bully pulpit for Mansour would not improve the lives of Palestinians and would significantly damage US relations with the Palestinian Authority" and that "Congress will take it extremely seriously."

The cable referenced potential retaliatory measures, including:

  • Revoking visas for Palestinian UN officials
  • Not assisting Palestine in recovering tax and customs revenue withheld by Israel — currently blocked since October 2023 by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich

Statements and Reactions

"The visa threat is counterproductive. Diplomatic engagement is necessary to resolve problems." — Hady Amr, former US State Department official

  • The Palestinian Authority declined to comment on the initial cable.

  • A person familiar with the matter stated that Ambassador Mansour withdrew his candidacy after the US pressure, and that the Palestinian UN delegation communicated through an Arab country that Mansour would not seek the vice president position for the next two years.

  • Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon praised Mansour's earlier withdrawal, stating that the delegation should focus on combating terrorism and reforming the Palestinian Authority.

  • The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

  • The Palestinian ambassador was among candidates from Asia and the Pacific region for the vice president positions. A spokesperson for the UN General Assembly president confirmed his inclusion.

Broader Context

For decades, the US has opposed Palestinian attempts to gain full UN membership, viewing them as unilateral moves that undermine peace efforts with Israel.