Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon criticized outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday for not visiting Israel since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, while Guterres arrived in Syria the same day for a three-day visit.
In an X post, Danon said Guterres "continues to travel around the world" But has not been to Israel since the war began. Danon stated that the incoming U.N. Secretary-general, to be selected in coming months, will need to undertake "restoring trust" In the institution.
Guterres has faced repeated criticism from Israeli officials regarding his handling of the war and related statements.
In Damascus on Saturday, Guterres said the Golan Heights "are Syrian territory." In an X post early Sunday, he wrote that "Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity must be fully respected" And that "violations by Israel of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement are unacceptable & must stop."
In March 2019, during U.S. President Donald Trump's first term, the United States officially recognized the Golan Heights as Israeli territory.