UN envoy cancels trip to Palestine over Israel visa denial

United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, Rashida Manjoo, has been forced to cancel a trip to the occupied Palestinian territories after Israeli officials refused her a visa.

“For the past six weeks, I have repeatedly sought the cooperation of Israel to facilitate access to the occupied Palestinian territory for me to undertake this visit. Regrettably, I did not receive the necessary support, including a visa by Israel,” Manjoo said in a statement.

The statement added, “It is unfortunate that I have been denied the opportunity to engage directly with women survivors of violence, and that the exercise of my mandate has been hindered by the unwillingness of Israel, as the occupying power, to facilitate access to the occupied Palestinian territory.”