US Snubs Defense Letter for UN Chief Amid Israeli Criticism

The United States did not join over 100 United Nations member countries in signing a letter backing U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres following a ban on his entry into Israel by the Israeli foreign minister, who labeled him “persona non grata.”

Initiated by Chile, the letter criticized the Israeli stance, suggesting that such actions could jeopardize the United Nations’ mission, which involves mediating in conflicts and delivering humanitarian aid.

The document expressed concerns that the situation “might further postpone the cessation of hostilities in the Middle East and the creation of a reliable route to a two-state resolution, where Palestine and Israel could coexist in peace and security.” It affirmed unwavering support for Guterres and his endeavors.

The letter saw signatures from a variety of nations including France, China, Lebanon, Iran, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Brazil, and the African Union. Notably missing were countries that had provided arms to Israel during its prolonged conflict in Gaza such as the U.S., Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Earlier this month, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz barred Guterres from entering Israel, inaccurately accusing him of not condemning Iran’s missile attacks and a Hamas-led offensive on October 7, 2023. Katz maintained his stance, stating on social media that “Guterres can continue to seek support from UN member states, but the decision remains unchanged.”

Guterres, who has consistently advocated for a cease-fire in the region and has criticized the U.S. for not pressuring its ally, did not directly reply to Katz’s comments. However, a spokesperson for Guterres described it as “another attack on UN personnel by the Israeli government.”

The support letter for Guterres was issued following incidents where Israeli forces fired upon UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, wounding at least four. Guterres described these attacks as “unacceptable.”

On Saturday, many countries contributing troops to the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) released a joint statement denouncing “recent assaults on UNIFIL peacekeepers” and called for an international inquiry into last week’s Israeli attacks.

The statement emphasized the need for all parties to respect UNIFIL’s operations, ensuring the safety and security of its personnel so they can continue their peacekeeping and supportive roles in Lebanon and the broader region.

Although the U.S. does not provide troops to UNIFIL, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed on Thursday that the Biden administration is “deeply concerned about reports that Israeli forces targeted positions and a tower utilized by UNIFIL peacekeepers in Lebanon.”

Reacting to this, Jameel Jaffer, director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, criticized, “I no longer believe that the Biden administration is ‘concerned’ about any of this—the loss of thousands of civilian lives, the targeting of journalists, aid workers, and peacekeepers.”

“Where is the real proof of their supposed concern?” he questioned.