Antonio Guterres Image by Getty Images

By Josh Nathan-Kazis May 31, 2017

In a meeting with leaders of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the secretary general of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, affirmed the historical role of Jews in Jerusalem.

“Denial of Israel’s right to exist is anti-Semitism,” Guterres said, according to a statement from the Wiesenthal Center. “History must be respected. Jerusalem is a holy city for three religions.”

Guterres made similar comments in March during a meeting with the World Jewish Congress.

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Guterres, a former Portuguese prime minister, has been secretary general since January. The Wiesenthal Center, led by Rabbi Marvin Hier, is a hawkish pro-Israel group that has enjoyed warm relations with the Trump administration.

“We are profoundly impressed by the scope of Secretary General Guterres’ knowledge and interest on issues that impact World Jewry directly,” Hier said in a statement.

Contact Josh Nathan-Kazis at [email protected] or on Twitter, @joshnathankazis.

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