Skip to main content

'I Feel the Change': Why Israel's UN Ambassador Sees New Signs of Hope After 70 Years

Share This article

This country had no diplomatic relations with Israel before 1992. Find out which nation is now supporting Israel at the United Nations by watching Gordon Robertson's interview with Israel's ambassador to the UN.

Despite hostilities at the United Nations and looming dangers at home, Israel's UN Ambassador UN Danny Danon remains hopeful for the future and for achieving peace with the Palestinians.

"Israel is a young country—today we celebrate only 70 years of independence. So, maybe it will take another five years, another 10 years, but once we will find a real partner we will be there, we will be willing to work together with them. The same way we did with the Egyptians and the Jordanians," explained the Israeli UN representative.

Ambassador Danon made his comments in New York City during an exclusive television interview with CBN's Gordon Robertson.

He said the United Nations remains hostile territory for the Israeli ambassador, but he praised US Ambassador Nikki Haley for changing the atmosphere of the international body.

"We still see a lot of hostility, but I feel the change. I feel the change especially since Ambassador Haley stepped in a little bit more than a year ago, we achieved a lot at the UN." 

Danon told Robertson there's still a big difference between what UN ambassadors tell him privately and how they act publicly. He said privately, ambassadors will reach out to him and say how much they appreciate and admire Israel. But then they still vote against Israel.

"My challenge is to close the gap between the private UN and the public UN," Ambassador Danon said.

Robertson asked Danon about the United Nations Refugee and Works Agency (UNRWA) and claims that it will run out of money this summer if the United States withholds $360 million from the agency. 

"In 1949, it was established to support the Palestinian refugees. And unfortunately, UNRWA, instead of supporting the refugees, they are inciting against Israel."

Danon mentioned US taxpayer supported, anti-Israel textbooks supplied to Palestinian schools by UNRWA.

"I think the US should consider what they are doing with their funds, with the taxpayer's money. They should support humanitarian causes, but they should not support incitement."

Robertson asked the ambassador about the Taylor Force Act, which passed the US House of Representatives last December but had been delayed in the US Senate until just this week. It's designed to end "Pay to Slay" Palestinian Authority payments that reward acts of terrorism against Israel.

"I hope it will go through because today, Abu Mazen, President Abbas is taking $340 million from the money he gets from the US and other countries and he gives it directly to terrorists who kill Israelis and Americans," explained Danon. 

The Taylor Force Act is named after a young American army veteran who, in 2016, was murdered by a Palestinian terrorist in Tel Aviv.  

Danon said he met with Taylor's parents recently in New York.

"I told them we salute them for the way they speak and present the case of their brave son and I hope the reality will change and American taxpayer's money will not be used to support terrorism."

Be sure to share this video and watch Friday's 700 Club to hear Gordon Robertson's comments about his meeting and interview with Israel's UN ambassador.

Share This article

About The Author

Gary Lane
Gary
Lane

Mr. Lane currently serves as International News Director and Senior International Correspondent for CBN News. He has traveled to more than 120 countries—many of them restricted nations or areas hostile to Christianity and other minority faiths where he has interviewed persecution victims and has provided video reports and analysis for CBN News. Also, he has provided written stories and has served as a consultant for the Voice of the Martyrs. Gary joined The Christian Broadcasting Network in 1984 as the first full-time Middle East Correspondent for CBN News. Based in Jerusalem, Gary produced