What’s behind Israel’s ban on the UN chief?

What’s behind Israel’s ban on the UN chief?

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

• Israel announced that it had banned United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) António Guterres from entering the country.

Reasons for the ban:

• Israel has accused him of backing Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran.
• Alleged failure to unequivocally condemn Iran’s missile strikes on Israel and Hamas attack on October 7, 2022.
• The ban is part of a broader Israeli argument that the UN is influenced by an anti-Israel bloc of Arab and Islamic nations, along with affiliated organizations like UNRWA, which Israel alleges has connections to Hamas.

Historical Precedent:

• Israel has in the past banned UN Special Rapporteurs and other senior officials accusing them of bias against Israel and in favour of the Palestinian side.
• However, the ban on UNSG is
• The closest instance of such an action occurred in 1950, when the USSR accused UNSG Trygve Lie of bias during the Korean crisis and threatened to veto his re-election.

UN Charter:

• Article 100, Paragraph 2 of UN Charter says that each UN member must respect the international nature of the Secretary-General’s and staff’s responsibilities and refrain from attempting to influence their work.

UN Secretary-General (UNSG):

• The UNSG is the chief administrative officer of the United Nations and plays a crucial role in promoting peace, security, and international cooperation.
• The UNSG is appointed by the UN General Assembly on the recommendation of the UN Security Council.
• The UNSG operates under the principles of neutrality and impartiality, as outlined in the UN Charter, ensuring that decisions and actions are not influenced by member states.