Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon led nine of his fellow UN ambassadors on a tour of Jerusalem’s City of David. The delegation, which is in Israel on a trip organized by AJC Project Interchange, was guided by Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat at the historic site. David Be'eri, Director and Founder of the City of David and 2017 recipient of the Israel Prize, also joined the tour.
The City of David is the cite of the Biblical city of Jerusalem during the First Temple period and the reigns of the Israelite Kings David and Solomon
“To defeat the lies spread about our capital city at the UN, nothing is more important than for my fellow ambassadors to learn the truth about Jerusalem and see the beauty of this city first-hand,” Ambassador Danon said of the visit to Jerusalem. “The more UN ambassadors visit Israel, the more they appreciate both the challenges we face and the opportunities that exist in our region. This is why I have visited Israel with over thirty UN ambassadors over the past year alone and will bring more in the months to come,” the Ambassador continued.
During the tour, Mayor Barkat showed the ambassadors the remains of the Shiloah Pool and numerous archaeological findings from the City of David, which unambiguously link the Jewish people to Jerusalem. These findings strongly contradict claims that deny the historical connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.
Mayor Barkat told the ambassadors: "The coin you see in my hands, found in the City of David excavations, is emblazoned with the inscription - 'For the Liberation of Zion.'" This coin is one of thousands that we find at our feet which unequivocally prove the Jewish and Christian roots in Jerusalem. Today, we work to fulfill the imperative emblazoned on the coin: Jerusalem, under Israeli sovereignty, is free and open to people of all religions, beliefs, and backgrounds."
During their visit to Israel, the delegation of nine ambassadors, from Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Asia Pacific region, will receive briefing providing them with a deeper understanding of the geopolitical and security challenges facing the country. Among the ambassadors taking part in the delegation are the representatives of Australia, Estonia, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Poland, and Togo.