03:43Mandatory credit: US State Department
US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller said Washington didn't find it 'productive' for Israel to declare UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres 'persona non grata' in the country, during his regular press briefing in DC on Wednesday.
"[Foreign Minister] Israel Katz’s statement this morning that Antonio Guterres will be banned from entering Israel. Do you have any response to that?" he was asked.
"I don’t find that – or we don’t find that step to be productive in any way," he replied.
"The UN does incredibly important work in Gaza. It does incredibly important work in the region. And the UN, when it’s acting at its best, can play an important role for security and stability," he continued.
On Wednesday, Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz declared that Guterres "does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil" after claiming that he did not 'unequivocally' condemn Iranian missile strikes this week, describing him as an "anti-Israel secretary-general who lends support to terrorists".
Guterres had issued a statement calling for a ceasefire following Iran's wave of strikes on Israel but did not explicitly mention the strikes. During a UNSC meeting, he reiterated his condemnation, saying it 'should've been obvious'.
Miller also stated that Israel had a 'right to respond' to the Iranian strikes and that the administration would 'continue to discuss with Israel what the shape of their response will be'.
"I’m not going to air all of those discussions privately, but we have made very clear that this was an unprecedented escalation by Iran. Israel has a right to respond to it and we’ll discuss that response with them," he said.
On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden said he did not back any potential strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Iran launched nearly 200 missiles at Israel this week, which it said was in response the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and others.
Not productive! State Dept spox after Israel declares UN chief 'persona non grata' over Iran attack response
US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller said Washington didn't find it 'productive' for Israel to declare UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres 'persona non grata' in the country, during his regular press briefing in DC on Wednesday.
"[Foreign Minister] Israel Katz’s statement this morning that Antonio Guterres will be banned from entering Israel. Do you have any response to that?" he was asked.
"I don’t find that – or we don’t find that step to be productive in any way," he replied.
"The UN does incredibly important work in Gaza. It does incredibly important work in the region. And the UN, when it’s acting at its best, can play an important role for security and stability," he continued.
On Wednesday, Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz declared that Guterres "does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil" after claiming that he did not 'unequivocally' condemn Iranian missile strikes this week, describing him as an "anti-Israel secretary-general who lends support to terrorists".
Guterres had issued a statement calling for a ceasefire following Iran's wave of strikes on Israel but did not explicitly mention the strikes. During a UNSC meeting, he reiterated his condemnation, saying it 'should've been obvious'.
Miller also stated that Israel had a 'right to respond' to the Iranian strikes and that the administration would 'continue to discuss with Israel what the shape of their response will be'.
"I’m not going to air all of those discussions privately, but we have made very clear that this was an unprecedented escalation by Iran. Israel has a right to respond to it and we’ll discuss that response with them," he said.
On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden said he did not back any potential strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Iran launched nearly 200 missiles at Israel this week, which it said was in response the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and others.
Mandatory credit: US State Department
US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller said Washington didn't find it 'productive' for Israel to declare UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres 'persona non grata' in the country, during his regular press briefing in DC on Wednesday.
"[Foreign Minister] Israel Katz’s statement this morning that Antonio Guterres will be banned from entering Israel. Do you have any response to that?" he was asked.
"I don’t find that – or we don’t find that step to be productive in any way," he replied.
"The UN does incredibly important work in Gaza. It does incredibly important work in the region. And the UN, when it’s acting at its best, can play an important role for security and stability," he continued.
On Wednesday, Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz declared that Guterres "does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil" after claiming that he did not 'unequivocally' condemn Iranian missile strikes this week, describing him as an "anti-Israel secretary-general who lends support to terrorists".
Guterres had issued a statement calling for a ceasefire following Iran's wave of strikes on Israel but did not explicitly mention the strikes. During a UNSC meeting, he reiterated his condemnation, saying it 'should've been obvious'.
Miller also stated that Israel had a 'right to respond' to the Iranian strikes and that the administration would 'continue to discuss with Israel what the shape of their response will be'.
"I’m not going to air all of those discussions privately, but we have made very clear that this was an unprecedented escalation by Iran. Israel has a right to respond to it and we’ll discuss that response with them," he said.
On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden said he did not back any potential strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Iran launched nearly 200 missiles at Israel this week, which it said was in response the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and others.