US Warns Palestinians to Drop UN Vice‑Presidency Bid or Face Penalties

On 19 May the State Department sent a cable to the Jerusalem embassy instructing it to deliver a formal protest, or demarche, to the Palestinian Authority. The message demanded withdrawal of the candidacy for one of the 16 vice‑presidential slots on the General Assembly, with a deadline of 22 May and a note that consequences will follow if ignored. The cable framed the move as part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to limit any symbolic gains for Palestinians at the UN.

The cable said the United States fears that a Palestinian vice‑president could chair key Middle East discussions during the UN’s high‑level week in September. It warned that, in a worst‑case scenario, the upcoming General Assembly president might assist Palestinians in overseeing those sessions. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has blocked roughly 60 % of the Palestinian Authority’s tax and customs revenue since the Gaza war began in October 2023.

The ultimatum adds pressure on an already strained Palestinian Authority, which relies heavily on the withheld revenues for its budget. Losing access to those funds could limit its ability to pay salaries and provide services in the West Bank. Observers will watch whether the Palestinian leadership complies by the 22 May deadline and whether the US follows through on any threatened steps, such as visa restrictions.