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Asia

FM defends decision to ban UN chief from Israel

13 October 2024 00:18 (UTC +04:00)

Foreign Minister Israel Katz defends his decision to ban United Nations Secretary General António Guterres from the country, after more than 100 UN member nations protested the move, APA reports citing Times of Israel.

In a joint letter, the nations stressed their “full support and confidence in the Secretary General and his work” and stated that Katz’s decision to declare him persona non grata harmed the UN’s “ability to carry out its mandate” and “could further delay an end to all hostilities and the establishment of a credible path towards the two-State solution.”

Katz responds dismissively to the letter, tweeting that the decision to proscribe the Portuguese diplomat had been spurred by his refusal to condemn Iran’s recent missile attack against Israel along with “his antisemitic and anti-Israeli behavior.”

He asserts nearly 90 percent of Israelis agree with his decision and that “Guterres can continue to try to collect signatures in support [of himself] from UN members [but] the decision will not be changed.”