Israel’s new United Nations ambassador, a former staunch rival of Benjamin Netanyahu, has committed to representing the prime minister’s positions at the world body, including a “vision” of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Danny Danon, a hard-line lawmaker from Netanyahu’s Likud Party, said in an Aug. 15 statement that he has grown as a politician.
Netanyahu fired Danon from his post as deputy defense minister during last year’s Gaza war after Danon criticized the prime minister’s handling of the conflict. After his dismissal, Danon lambasted what he called Netanyahu’s “leftist flaccid attitude.”
“Today, more than before, I have a greater appreciation of my role as a public servant and the responsibility this entails,” read the statement by Danon, currently the science, technology and space minister, who was tapped for the post on Aug. 14. “As Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., I will represent the prime minister’s policies and positions on security and peace, including his longstanding commitment to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons and his vision of two states for two peoples — a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes the Jewish state.”
Danon, who will succeed Ron Prosor at the United Nations starting at the end of October, according to the daily Haaretz, also has long opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, and said in April 2014 that if Netanyahu moves to withdraw from the West Bank, he should be ousted from Likud.
Danon’s appointment has drawn criticism from the Knesset’s center and left. — jta