Israel’s UN Ambassador Danon Says Country’s Position Has Improved
In the United States, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, said that after returning to his post in 2024, he has seen an improvement in attitudes toward Israel at the United Nations. In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, he said that after Hamas’s October 7 attack, he was struck by the level of hostility toward and isolation of Israel, but now, in his view, the situation is changing.
According to Danon, the changes are most noticeable in private contacts with diplomats, including representatives of Muslim states. He claims that after Israel’s operations against Hezbollah and Iran, diplomats privately expressed respect for Israeli capabilities, although their countries could continue to take a critical position publicly.
Contacts in Latin America
Danon believes that private recognition of Israeli capabilities may contribute to bilateral cooperation in intelligence, trade and defense technology. According to him, military attachés in New York studied the pager operation in Lebanon, as well as Israel’s actions against Iran. The ambassador said this helped Israel restore international respect and strengthen deterrence.
Danon separately described Latin America as a positive diplomatic direction. He reported a productive meeting with Venezuela’s ambassador and said that Caracas had shifted from a hostile position at the UN to an allied one toward Israel. The diplomat also expects Colombia’s approach to change after the arrival of the country’s new ambassador, as Colombia is a member of the UN Security Council.
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Danon added that Israel maintains good relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. At the same time, he does not expect Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords soon, since, according to him, Hamas’s October 7 attack derailed the process.
UNIFIL and Criticism of Guterres
The ambassador said that Israel supports ending the work of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, and opposes replacing the mission with another international structure. According to him, Israel prefers direct coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces. Danon also expects France, other states and UN officials to seek an extension of the mandate or the creation of a successor mechanism.
Danon sharply criticized UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose term, according to the publication, expires at the end of the year. Among his main complaints, he cited the fact that the secretary-general did not visit Israel after Hamas’s October 7 attack. At the same time, the ambassador stressed that Israel should not leave the UN, but should build coalitions and seek changes within the organization.
