The new Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, issued a stern warning to the international body regarding escalating tensions with Hezbollah and concerns about Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. He criticized the U.N. for failing to implement Security Council Resolution 1701, which prohibits military force in southern Lebanon besides the Lebanese military. Danon expressed concern about Hezbollah’s control in the region and their use of tens of thousands of rockets, highlighting the need to push Hezbollah away from Israel’s community in the north.
Dealing with various groups in the Middle East such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis requires addressing Iran. Danon emphasized the importance of Western democracies putting pressure on Iran to prevent the country from obtaining nuclear capabilities. He highlighted the potential dangers of Iran having nuclear weapons, pointing to a previous attack where hundreds of projectiles were sent into Israel. Danon stressed Israel’s commitment to not allowing Iran to achieve nuclear capabilities.
Danon replaced Gilad Erdan as the Israeli ambassador to the U.N., who gained international attention for his bold speeches and criticism of the U.N. Erdan’s fiery rhetoric included calling for the closure and erasure of the U.N. building in Jerusalem. While Erdan believed the U.N. was a broken institution, Danon expressed confidence that the organization could be reformed with U.S. support. He criticized the U.N.’s lack of condemnation following recent attacks, highlighting double standards when it came to Israel and calling for reform to focus on promoting security and peace.
Danon urged the U.S., as the largest contributor to the U.N., to demand accountability and focus on the organization’s core objectives. He emphasized the need for the U.N. to prioritize promoting security and peace rather than becoming a platform for hate and incitement by radical countries. Danon called for reform within the U.N., with a focus on holding the organization accountable for its actions and ensuring that resources are allocated effectively. The U.S. contributed over $18 billion to the U.N. in 2022, which accounted for one-third of the body’s collective budget.
In conclusion, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, issued a stern warning to the international body regarding escalating tensions with Hezbollah and concerns about Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. Danon emphasized the importance of Western democracies putting pressure on Iran to prevent it from achieving nuclear capabilities and highlighted the potential dangers Iran poses. He expressed confidence in the U.N.’s ability to be reformed with U.S. support, calling for the organization to focus on promoting security and peace. Danon urged the U.S. to demand accountability from the U.N. and ensure that resources are allocated effectively to address global challenges.
