TEL AVIV – Israel’s standing at the United Nations is slowly improving while that of the Palestinians is on the wane, Israel’s envoy to the world body said in an interview published by the Hebrew newspaper Makor Rishon on Friday.
“The Palestinians are no longer riding the wave,” Ambassador Danny Danon said according to a translation of his Hebrew remarks by the Algemeiner. “Once, this was their home court and they passed whatever they wanted. Today, the atmosphere is different.”
The Israeli envoy added that the push by the Palestinians to get anti-Israel resolutions passed at UN agencies such as its Human Rights Council and the cultural institution UNESCO is the result of being unable to garner similar support at the Security Council and General Assembly.
Danon has developed close ties with his American counterpart, Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. The decision by the Trump administration to withdraw from UNESCO over its anti-Israel bias “proves the seriousness” of the U.S.’s commitment to reforming the UN, Danon stated.
“They are doing, not just talking,” he said.
Danon slammed the UNHRC over its proposal to publish a “blacklist” of companies that do business with Israeli settlements, saying it would legitimize the BDS movement.
“It is very dangerous, grave and precedent-setting, and it must not be allowed to pass,” Danon said. “A black list of Jewish businesses in the Land of Israel — in my eyes, this is UN-sponsored anti-Semitism. Therefore, it’s a red line.”
Meanwhile, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov on Sunday blasted Hamas leaders, saying that the terror group’s recent rapprochement with rival faction Fatah did not mean Hamas was ending its efforts to destroy Israel.
“I condemn the latest statements made by some Hamas leaders, reportedly calling for the destruction of the State of Israel,” Mladenov said. “They do not serve the interest of peace and the goal of achieving a negotiated two-state solution.”
“Under the auspices of Egypt, Palestinian leaders have embarked on a course to solve the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and enable the government to take up its responsibilities in the Strip. I encourage them not be distracted from this objective,” he added.
While on a visit to Tehran, Hamas deputy chief Salah al-Arouri rejected three preconditions outlined by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for dealing with any Palestinian unity government that the terror group will be part of — namely, that Hamas disarm, recognize Israel and cut all relations with Iran. The first two conditions were reiterated by the U.S.
Regarding recognizing Israel, Al-Arouri said on Saturday, “We’re not in the stage of recognition; rather we are now in the stage of preparing to eliminate the Zionist entity.” As for cutting ties with Iran, he said, “Our visit to Tehran is our practical rejection to the Israeli demand to cut ties with it.”
Two days earlier, Hamas’ Gaza-based Prime Minister Yahya Sinwar said, “No one in the universe can disarm us. On the contrary, we will continue to have the power to protect our citizens.”
“Over is the time Hamas spent discussing recognizing Israel. Now Hamas will discuss when we will wipe out Israel,” Sinwar added, according to the Hamas-linked news agency Shehab.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.