Spain backs UN chief after Israel declared him persona non grata

GENEVA

Hitting back at Israel’s decision to declare UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata, Spain on Wednesday expressed support for Guterres.

"We completely reject this slander and this ban, and we support, of course, the UN secretary-general," Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told Spanish broadcaster La Sexta.

Albares said Guterres, a Portuguese politician, "is a good friend of Spain and, above all, he is a friend of peace."

His remarks came after Israel barred Guterres from entering the country, declaring him officially unwelcome.

"I have declared UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata in Israel and banned him from entering the country," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on Wednesday.

Several UN officials were also banned from entering Israel in recent months, including UN Special Rapporteur for Palestinians Francesca Albanese, accused of siding with the Palestinians, and the UN humanitarian office chief in occupied Palestinian Territory, who said in August that Israel did not extend his visa due to a UN report accusing Israel of violating the rights of Palestinian children.

GENEVA

Hitting back at Israel’s decision to declare UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata, Spain on Wednesday expressed support for Guterres.

"We completely reject this slander and this ban, and we support, of course, the UN secretary-general," Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told Spanish broadcaster La Sexta.

Albares said Guterres, a Portuguese politician, "is a good friend of Spain and, above all, he is a friend of peace."

His remarks came after Israel barred Guterres from entering the country, declaring him officially unwelcome.

"I have declared UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata in Israel and banned him from entering the country," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on Wednesday.