According to Israeli media Ynet, Haavisto is too close to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in Israel’s eyes. Guterres has criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza in harsh words.
Israel has rejected Finland’s former foreign minister, MP Pekka Haavisto (green) of the top UN official in the Middle East, Israeli media Ynet tells. The matter was first reported in Finland Evening newspaper.
reported in November that Haavisto would probably get the job of UNSCO special coordinator.
UNSCO was established for the Middle East peace process, and it originated from the Oslo Accords in 1994. The agreement sought to point the way to peace in Israel and Palestine.
The UNSCO Special Coordinator represents the UN Secretary General in the region.
According to Ynet, the UN quietly proposed to Israel the appointment of Haavisto to the position. Instead of a positive answer, Israel asked the UN for more candidates for the job.
Ynet writes that the reason for rejecting Haavisto’s appointment may be that Israel considers Haavisto to be too close to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres with. Guterres has criticized Israel for its military actions in Gaza, which is why Israel has declared him an unwelcome person on its own soil. In addition, Haavisto supports the two-state model.