As reported by Times of Israel, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres disclosed in a recent interview that since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2018, he has not been able to get in touch with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Guterres, Netanyahu has been declining his calls, which has sparked questions about the condition of communication between the Israeli government and the UN at a time of intensified hostilities....READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
Guterres and Netanyahu last met in person at the UN General Assembly in September 2023, where discussions centered around various pressing global issues. The Secretary-General expressed his willingness to meet with Netanyahu again if the Prime Minister were to request it, saying, “I have not talked to him because he didn’t pick up my phone calls, but I have no reason not to speak with him. So if he comes to New York and he asks to see me, I will be very glad to see him.”
The lack of communication comes as tensions between Israel and the Palestinian territories have escalated dramatically. Following the October 7 attack, which resulted in significant casualties and led to Israel’s military response, Guterres has faced criticism from Israeli officials for his remarks regarding the situation. In particular, his comments suggesting that the Hamas attacks did not occur in a vacuum were met with backlash, prompting Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to question Guterres’s understanding of the conflict.
When asked about the possibility of a meeting between Netanyahu and Guterres during the upcoming UN General Assembly, Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon indicated that the Prime Minister’s schedule had not yet been finalized. This uncertainty adds to the already complex diplomatic landscape as global leaders prepare to gather in New York for the annual event.
