France supports UN chief Guterres in Israel dispute

France denounces Israel’s decision to declare UN chief Antonio Guterres “persona non grata,” calling it unjustified and counter-productive. Paris expresses full support for Guterres, highlighting the UN’s vital role in regional stability.

Israel’s move came after Guterres failed to explicitly condemn Iran’s missile attack on Israel, though he later did so. Tensions between Israel and the UN have escalated, especially after Israel’s recent military actions in Gaza.

The US and EU have criticized Israel’s actions, with EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell defending Guterres’ position. Borrell emphasizes the complex history of conflicts in the region and cautions against trivializing terms like anti-Semitism in political discourse.

Borrell acknowledges Israel’s right to self-defense but questions if limits have been exceeded. He challenges Europe to confront these difficult questions and stresses the importance of respecting differing opinions.