דנון באו''ם
דנון באו''םצילום: UN photo/ Cia Pak

One year after former Likud MK Danny Danon made the transition from the Knesset to the United Nations, Israel's Ambassador to the UN spoke with Arutz Sheva regarding the trends now shaping the international body, and the possibility of Israel receiving its first voting seat on the UN Security Council.

'We can win in the UN'

While the United Nations still has a strongly anti-Israel slant, the Ambassador told Arutz Sheva, the Jewish state has made great strides in recent years – with the possibility of even greater accomplishments yet to come.

"There is no love for Israel in this building," Danon acknowledged, "but the days when they could just smear us are gone. We need to dare to believe that its possible for us to win in the UN. I was the first Israeli chosen to chair a UN committee. That's a great accomplishment."

Israel on the UN Security Council?

Despite the recent election of Danon as committee chairman, a first for Israel's Mission to the UN, the Ambassador isn't resting on his laurels.

"In another two years Israel will be a candidate for membership on the Security Council," Danon noted.

The 15-member UN Security Council includes five permanent members – China, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, all of whom enjoy veto power – along with 10 temporary voting members. Each temporary council member sits on the council for two years. In 2018, Israel will compete with Belgium and Germany to win representation for the "Western European and Others" bloc.

Israel has never held a seat on the UN Security Council.

Though significant barriers remain, Danon is optimistic about Israel's chances of winning the seat.

"There is a lot of time, and we're preparing for it. I believe that Israelis are capable of reaching any position in the UN. We recently showed that its possible to win and make great achievements. It's not easy, but its possible."

UN decisions 'difficult' for Israel

While he remains upbeat, Danon never hides the difficulties Israel faces in the United Nations.

"We take a lot here – there are decisions made here that are not easy for Israel, but as soon as you're setting the agenda and creating the initiatives, we also have influence."

Palestinian Incitement and Hezbollah's Arsenal

Just before the interview, Ambassador Danon addressed a meeting of the Security Council, discussing the issues of ongoing anti-Semitic incitement in the Palestinian Authority, and the dangers of Hezbollah's growing arsenal along Israel's northern border.

"For the first time we showed them intelligence material proving that Hezbollah is setting up missile batteries next to schools and inside of villages, in preparation for the next war."

Hezki

Photographer - Hezki Baruch