Israel’s outgoing UN envoy ‘felt like I was on 1 vs. 100 game show’

Outgoing Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor slammed the agency as “toothless” in addressing Middle East unrest, and denounced its institutionalized discrimination against the Jewish state, in an interview aired Friday.

Hours earlier, Prosor delivered his final speech to the UN General Assembly before stepping down as Israel’s ambassador to Turtle Bay after a four year stint.

“I sometimes felt like I was on the game show 1 vs. 100,” he told Channel 2, reflecting on his tenure. Prosor, a former director general of the foreign minister and ambassador to the UK, is being succeeded by hawkish Likud MK Danny Danon, who was fired as deputy defense minister last year for denouncing the government’s ostensible soft policy on tackling Hamas in Gaza.

“Almost every day I felt it: I’m talking about institutionalized discrimination,” said Prosor of the UN climate. “It’s incomprehensible that this body will sponsor resolutions against Israel every year for 20 years, and only pass one against Syria or Islamic State,” he said.

“The (UN’s) Human Rights Council has one article devoted to the entire world, and one article devoted especially to just Israel,” he said.

Prosor charged the UN was ineffective in its dealings with Iran, Syria and the rest of the Middle East.

“Is the UN really solving what’s happening in Syria, or the genocides taking place in the other major conflict zones around the world?” he asked.

Prosor pointed to the Iranian representatives who refused to speak or interact with him or any other member of the Israeli delegation as further proof of the agency’s inadequate diplomatic efforts.

“The UN is rarely on the forefront of providing the best solution, and that is due to its composition,” he charged. “It’s a parliamentary body representing countries run by tyrannical dictators and non-democracies.”

Prosor also touched on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial pre-election comment ruling out the establishment of a Palestinian state and his election day complaint that Israeli Arabs were heading to the polls in droves.

“It was an election campaign,” Prosor said. “We all know dozens of statements made by prime ministers and presidents who say things, only to change their policies after they are elected.”

Prosor voiced support for his successor Danon, saying “I’m confident that he will be able to succeed in the task of protecting the state of Israel on the diplomatic front.”

In his final speech to the Assembly, Prosor derided the UN decision authorizing the Palestinians to raise their flag at UN headquarters in New York.

Calling the resolution an “empty symbol” and “political showmanship,” Prosor lamented what he called the Palestinian “abuse” of the organization’s institutions. He said the Palestinian flag-raising effort had led the UN to “raise a white flag” and surrender its principles.

“I look forward to the day the flags of our two peoples will be raised side-by-side, and Israelis and Palestinians live together in peace,” Prosor told the Assembly. “However, instead of trying to guide the Palestinians down the path to peace, you are helping them to ride right off the tracks.”

The resolution allowed the Palestinian flag and that of the Holy See — both of which have non-member observer status — to be raised alongside those of the member states. The measure was adopted with 119 in favor, eight voting against — including Israel and the United States — and 45 abstentions.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.