The United States Treasury Department has removed Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the West Bank and Gaza, from its sanctions list, according to the department's official website. The action, confirmed on Thursday, May 21, 2026, marks a shift in Washington's approach to the controversial UN official who has drawn criticism for her positions on Israeli-Palestinian matters.
Diplomatic Pressure on Palestinian UN Mission
The Albanese decision comes as the Trump administration intensifies diplomatic pressure on Palestinian representation at the United Nations. According to a cable dated Wednesday and first reported by NPR, the United States is planning to threaten to revoke the visas of the Palestinian delegation to the UN if the mission's envoy submits his candidacy for the vice presidency of the General Assembly. US diplomats in the embassy in Jerusalem were instructed to deliver the message that Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour's General Assembly bid "fuels tensions" and risks undermining Trump's Gaza peace plan.
A US official told The Times of Israel that the message had not actually been passed on to Ramallah because the Palestinian mission had not yet submitted its candidacy and it was not clear if it would. The cable stated clearly, "To be clear, we will hold the [Palestinian Authority] responsible if the Palestinian delegation does not withdraw its VPGA candidacy," and added, "It would be unfortunate to have to revisit any available options."
State Department Position and Palestinian Response
The State Department addressed the matter cautiously, saying, "We take seriously our obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement," while adding, "Due to visa record confidentiality, we have no comment on Department actions with respect to specific cases." The Palestinian mission to the UN declined to comment on the visa threat.
Mansour had already withdrawn his candidacy for the presidency of the General Assembly as a result of US lobbying in February. If elected to the lower-profile vice presidency, he could still preside over General Assembly sessions. The cable noted, "Therefore, there is still a risk that the Palestinians could preside over GA sessions during UNGA81 unless they withdraw from the race," and warned, "In a worst-case scenario, the next PGA might assist the Palestinians in presiding over high-profile sessions related to the Middle East or during UNGA81 high-level week."
Upcoming UN Elections
The election of the UN General Assembly president and the 16 delegations that will serve as vice presidents will be held on June 2, just 12 days from today. The Palestinian Authority, which represents the Palestinian people at the United Nations, where the delegation is officially known as the State of Palestine, is not a full member and has no vote in the 193-member General Assembly. It is an observer state, holding the same status as the Holy See (Vatican).
Why This Matters:
The Treasury's removal of Albanese from sanctions lists and the simultaneous pressure on Palestinian UN representation reveal the administration's strategic approach to multilateral institutions. By leveraging visa authority and diplomatic channels, Washington is asserting national interests within international forums that have historically been hostile to key US allies. The Palestinian Authority's observer status—lacking voting rights yet seeking leadership positions—raises questions about institutional legitimacy and the appropriate role of non-state actors in global governance. With the June 2 election approaching, the administration's willingness to use available legal tools demonstrates a pragmatic approach to protecting American foreign policy objectives and supporting regional allies against efforts that could undermine ongoing peace initiatives.