Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, on Wednesday, announced that Israel has barred United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres from entering the country for failing to ”unequivocally” condemn Iran’s missile attack on Israel.
It would be recalled that Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday amid an escalation in fighting between Israel and its proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah.
Guterres had on Tuesday issued a brief statement after the missile attack condemning “the broadening of the Middle East conflict, with escalation after escalation.”
Following Guterres’ assertion, Israeli foreign minister, Israel Katz said Guterres’ failure to call out Iran made him persona non grata in Israel.
“Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel, as nearly all the countries of the world have done, does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil.
“Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, with or without Antonio Guterres,” Katz said.
Asked to react to the development, U.S. State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller said: “Steps like these are not productive to (Israel) improving its standing in the world.”
–Punch
