Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon: "We're a team of about 25 people, and there are maybe 1,000 people that wake up every morning in New York to attack us"

After a short hiatus, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon once again finds himself representing Israel in Turtle Bay, the lion’s den of anti-Israel activity and sentiment. 

Danon, formerly Israel’s deputy minister of defense and science, technology and space minister, began his first five-year stint as Israel’s U.N. envoy in 2015, and returned to the post in August 2024. 

During a meeting in his New York office on Thursday, Danon told JNS that he had returned to the United Nations after Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre because it is ground zero in the diplomatic war against the Jewish state and he felt a moral obligation to defend his country. 

Q: You just began your second term at the United Nations, which is widely considered a hostile body to Israel. Why did you agree to come back? 

A: I never imagined I would come back to this position again after an intensive five years, but Oct. 7 changed a lot for all of us, especially with regard to how we can do more and be more effective to support the country we all love. When the prime minister asked me to come back because of the situation, I accepted his proposal. 

It wasn’t easy but I think it’s important at this time to have someone with experience, knowledge and connections. For every new ambassador, there is a learning curve. It would take six months to a year for him to know the system and what to do, and we do not have that time. We are in a war on seven fronts, sustaining a lot of attacks at the United Nations, and I think it was the right decision.  

Q: What are some of the immediate challenges the country is facing at the United Nations? 

A: There are constant attacks against Israel, more than I expected. Almost every day we go to the Security Council, the General Assembly. Resolutions from various directions. If you look at numbers, we’re a team of about 25 people, and there are maybe 1,000 people that wake up every morning in New York to attack us. It’s not only the Palestinians. There are also many Arab delegations, European delegations that all day long sit down and strategize what they can do against Israel at the United Nations, with vast resolutions, a lot of work and pressure, but we are pushing back. 

Q: Can we expect any surprises at the U.N. Security Council before the end of President Joe Biden’s term? 

A: I am sure there will be challenges, and some people will try to put the administration in a tough spot with challenging resolutions. I hope that the administration will maintain its support, especially on the issue of the hostages, and make it clear that you cannot pass a resolution that calls for a ceasefire without direct linkage to the release of the hostages. I know there will be a lot of pressure on this issue, to call for a ceasefire and forget about the hostages in Gaza. This is not something we will support. 

Q: How are your relations with envoys from Abraham Accords countries, and are there any low-key contacts with states we don’t have diplomatic relations with? 

A: In general, I believe in engagement. I was involved in the Abraham Accords. I flew to the United Arab Emirates before we signed the agreement. We have close contact with many friends from the Arab world. Now, it’s sensitive during the war. I understand that sometimes it’s hard for them to be seen at our events, but I am sure it will go back to where it was once we finish the war. We will be able to expand the Abraham Accords, and also, from the connections I have here and I built here, we will be able to expand the accords. 

Q: Can you talk about some of the initiatives you will be working on this year? 

A: I am very creative with coming up with ideas. As of now, because of the war, we focus on the war effort. Usually, in regular times we speak about innovation, A.I., agriculture, satellites, we show the world what we can do to help them, maybe developing countries. Today, because we are at war, we have to deal with so many issues connected to the war in Lebanon, in Gaza and Iran, [so] we are waiting with those initiatives, but we will come back to them once we finish the war. 

Q: With President-elect Donald Trump reentering the White House, will there be a push to snap back sanctions on Iran? 

A: I think the West must take a more active approach against Iran, otherwise we will wake up one morning and we will be surprised that they achieved nuclear capabilities. And we saw that they are a rogue state. They sent hundreds of missiles against Israel. They can do it again against Saudi Arabia, against Europe or the United States. We should not allow them to acquire nuclear weapons. 

Q: Trump nominated Elise Stefanik as the U.S. envoy to the United Nations. What was your reaction?

A: I congratulated representative Stefanik. I know her, I met her in Israel. She is a strong leader, she proved her moral clarity when she tackled antisemitism on campuses, and we [need] that moral clarity here at the United Nations. 

Q: What is your relationship with the families of hostages?

A: I meet the families all the time. Ayelet Samerano was at the United Nations with me yesterday. She spoke there. We had Mia Schem, who was in captivity of Hamas in Gaza. She went to the United Nations to share her story, and we will keep bringing them here in order to remind the world why we are fighting this fight. Our responsibility is to continue until we bring them back. 

Q: What is your message for the Israeli people?

A: I prefer to be in a place where people respect us and sometimes even criticize us rather than be where we were a year ago, when people felt pity for us and mercy. If I had to choose between the mercy of the international community or the criticism, I prefer the criticism. I wish they would all actually support us in winning the war against evil, but if we have to choose, I always will choose the high ground because we saw what happened to us a year ago.

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