What it’s about
Foreign Minister Israel Katz took a decisive stance on Wednesday by declaring UN Secretary-General António Guterres a “persona non grata” and barring him from entering Israel. This decision came after Guterres failed to unequivocally condemn a recent Iranian missile attack on Israel.
Why it matters
Iran’s aggression through missile attacks targeted Israeli civilians, and its omission by the UN’s top official drew significant ire. Israel sees this lack of condemnation not only as a disregard of its security concerns but also as a lack of support from international institutions to maintain peace and denounce terrorism.
Driving the news
In a statement on social media, Katz expressed indignation over Guterres’s generalized statements on the Middle East conflict, noting that the Secretary-General’s comments failed to mention Iran’s direct responsibility. Katz highlighted the global consensus condemning Iran’s actions, criticizing Guterres’s deviating stance.
Statement of consequences
“Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil,” declared Katz. He also censured Guterres for failing to condemn Hamas’s unwarranted aggression and atrocities on October 7 and for not supporting international designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Context of ongoing concerns
Israel’s concerns about Guterres are not new; the Secretary-General has previously faced criticism for perceived leniency towards terror organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah. He controversially defended the UNRWA agency, which Israel claims to have ties with Hamas, further deepening discontent.
The bigger picture
According to a senior Israeli official, Guterres’s continued refusal to recognize Hamas as a terrorist group and his actions perceived as supportive of Islamist groups broadly damage the credibility of his office. Israel expected more forthright denunciation from the UN at a time when regional peace and global security are heavily threatened by state-supported terrorism emanating from Tehran.
This story was first published on ynetnews.com.