Israel Denounces Guterres for Signing Condolence Book for Iranian Leader

Israel strongly criticized UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for signing a condolence book at Iran's mission to the UN following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. The act, seen as controversial, sparked outrage from Israeli officials who viewed it as an endorsement of a leader with a notorious history.

Taking to social media, Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan expressed his dismay. "While you write your condolences for a mass-murdering terror-supporting tyrant, do you bother to give any thought to the thousands he murdered?" Erdan tweeted, condemning Guterres' actions. "You bow your head in mourning as the Iranian people continue to be oppressed and the Ayatollah’s proxies rain death and destruction across the region."

Erdan's message was accompanied by a video showing Guterres at the Iranian mission, visibly signing the condolence book. This move by the UN Secretary General drew further criticism given Iran's contentious international standing and the oppressive regime led by Raisi.

According to reports from Iranian media, nearly 100 international diplomats have signed the condolence book, including UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed. The collective response from the international community has been perceived by many as overlooking the darker aspects of Raisi's rule.

Raisi, along with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several other officials, died in a helicopter crash on May 19 in northern Iran. The incident occurred in mountainous terrain under foggy conditions.

Alex Grinman, an Iran expert at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, highlighted Raisi’s grim legacy. Known as "The Butcher of Tehran," Raisi's role in revolutionary courts led to the deaths of numerous political dissidents during the 1980s. "None of these people were criminals," Grinman pointed out, emphasizing the brutal nature of Raisi's actions.

Thousands of dissidents faced torture, execution, or disappearance under Raisi’s watch, particularly in the notorious 1988 massacres. Despite his fearsome reputation, Grinman downplayed Raisi's overall significance in Iran's political hierarchy, noting that the president primarily executes the directives of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "The president has no say, even a formal one, over foreign policy or Iran’s regional policy such as the proxy wars and support for terrorist organizations," Grinman elaborated.

In a move that further provoked Israeli officials, the UN Security Council held a minute of silence for Raisi following his death, a gesture that was met with significant backlash from Israel. The Israeli government remains firm in its stance against what it perceives as the glorification of a figure linked to widespread human rights abuses and regional instability.

Israel continues to call for a more discerning approach by the international community, urging world leaders to recognize and stand against the actions of oppressive regimes. The broader implications of such diplomatic gestures resonate deeply with those who advocate for justice and human rights.

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