TEL AVIV – Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon was elected vice president of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, marking a major triumph for the Israeli mission to the international body.
“It is an honor to represent the State of Israel in this leadership position at the United Nations,” Danon said in a statement. “We have proven once again that Israel is ready and able to serve in significant positions in the UN and the attempts to block this progress will not succeed.”
Danon, who was elected to the position as a representative of the Western European and Others (WEOG) group, will begin his one-year term with the opening of the 72nd session of the General Assembly in September. He will chair General Assembly meetings when the president is absent, have a say in setting the agenda and oversee “the rules and decorum during the sessions,” according to Danon’s office.
Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajcak was elected as UNGA president.
In May 2016, Danon made UN history by becoming the first Israeli envoy to chair a permanent UN committee when he was elected to chair the UNGA’s legal committee, the Sixth Committee.