UN Secretary-General Designated 'Persona Non Grata'
Foreign Minister: "Secretary-General Who Cannot Condemn Iran Has No Right to Stand"
On the 2nd (local time), Israel designated Ant?nio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, as a 'persona non grata' due to his failure to condemn Iran's ballistic missile launches against Israel. Declaring the head of the UN, which represents the international community, as an unwelcome person in diplomatic terms is an extremely rare occurrence.
According to major foreign media, Israeli Foreign Minister Katz stated in a press release that day, "Anyone who fails to firmly condemn Iran's evil attack on Israel does not deserve to set foot on Israeli territory."
Minister Katz harshly criticized Secretary-General Guterres, calling him "an anti-Israel Secretary-General who supports terrorists, rapists, and murderers."
Secretary-General Guterres issued a statement the previous day regarding Iran's retaliatory attack, in which about 200 ballistic missiles were launched at Israel, saying, "We condemn the escalation and repeated intensification of the Middle East conflict," and urged, "We absolutely need a ceasefire."
Israel interpreted his neutral and general stance, which did not directly hold Iran responsible as the attacking party, as dissatisfaction, expressing it through the strong measure of banning his entry.
Minister Katz expressed gratitude on X (formerly Twitter) by sharing messages from world leaders who condemned Iran, including U.S. Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He added, "The Ayatollah regime (Iran) has crossed the red line. Israel will not remain silent as Iran brutally attacks our citizens," and insisted, "The entire free world must stand with Israel to stop Iran, the 'axis of evil,' before it is too late."
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