Israel welcomes Guterres as hope for more pro-Israel UN

5 October 2016, 8:23 pm

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Israel’s envoy to the UN welcomes the pick of Antonio Guterres as the next UN chief, while expressing hope that he will change course from the world body’s history of anti-Israel stances.

UN Special Envoy for Refugees and actress Angelina Jolie, right, and then-UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres, left, brief the UN Security Council on Syria's refugee crisis, Friday, April 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) — UN Special Envoy for Refugees and actress Angelina Jolie, right, and then-UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres, left, brief the UN Security Council on Syria’s refugee crisis, Friday, April 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

“The State of Israel hopes, and expects, that the UN under his leadership will act in the spirit of its founding principles as a fair body able to differentiate between good and evil and will end its obsession with Israel,” says Danny Danon in a statement. “I hope that this change in leadership will bring an end to the organization’s hostility towards the Jewish state.”

Israel often accuses the UN of being singularly focused on criticism of Israel while ignoring other ills around the world.