Government approves appointment of Danny Danon for second stint as UN ambassador

By Sam Sokol 30 June 2024, 1:17 pm

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Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

File: Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon addresses the United Nations Security Council, at UN headquarters, on January 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

The government unanimously approves Likud MK Danny Danon’s appointment as Israel’s next ambassador to the United Nations, replacing Gilad Erdan.

This will be Danon’s second stint at Turtle Bay; he served as Israel’s envoy to the UN from 2015 to 2020.

Even after the end of his first stint in the UN, Danon has continued to be critical of the body and especially its leader, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres — an approach he is likely to continue when he returns to New York.

“I am proud and honored to return and serve the State of Israel during this critical period,” Danon says in a statement. “As Israel faces numerous fronts, it is imperative for each of us to contribute our best efforts and expertise. This has been my approach in the past, and it will continue to be my approach moving forward.

“In the face of the resurgence of diplomatic terrorism, I am committed to presenting the truth with confidence for the sake of the people of Israel and our shared future,” he adds.

Danon is slated to begin the role in August, when Erdan returns to Israel.

At the time of the initial announcement of his appointment earlier this month, Hebrew media speculation suggested that Benjamin Netanyahu was happy to send Danon back to New York, as he is considered one of the more adversarial voices against the prime minister within Likud and could join party stalwarts such as MKs Yuli Edelstein and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in attempting to challenge Netanyahu for the party leadership.

In an interview with The Times of Israel in March, Danon — who challenged Netanyahu for the Likud chairmanship in 2007 and 2014 — said the country and the party’s focus should be on the war.

“I think today we should care less about the polls and more about what’s happening in Gaza. If Netanyahu will lead the nation to full victory, I think that’s what we expect him to do and that’s the only way for Israel to recover,” he said at the time.