Israel’s UN Envoy Defends Government Amid Growing U.S. Criticism

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, warned that U.S. Speaking on the eve of the UN General Assembly’s high-level week, Danon said the criticism stems from “opportunistic politicians” rather than substantive concerns. He framed Israel’s relationship with the United States as a shared fight against common enemies and emphasized that Israel will continue to stand with the U.S. in international forums.

The Hill

Public opinion on Israel has eroded sharply since 2019. A recent Pew survey finds that 62 % of Americans now hold a negative view of the Israeli government, while 42 % view the Israeli people unfavorably—up from 25 % four years earlier. Gallup data shows that after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack, roughly half of Americans expressed support for Israel, but that support has declined as the Gaza war continued and civilian casualties rose.

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Democratic lawmakers have taken concrete steps to curb U.S. military aid. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) blocked a proposed sale of 40,000 one-ton bombs worth $2.8 billion. Shaheen also introduced a resolution on Sept. 15 calling for State Department reporting on West Bank violence and Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, Canada and France announced sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a move denounced by Danon as “performative” and a distraction from those countries’ own problems.

The Hill

Danon reiterated that Israel “shares the same values” with the United States and highlighted past cooperation, such as joint action against Iran. He declined to comment on individual lawmakers’ concerns, instead portraying Palestinian violence in the West Bank as a greater threat to Jewish families than Palestinian hardship. Danon also noted logistical constraints tied to the High Holidays and Israel’s upcoming Oct. 27 elections, which limit the length of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s UN visit.

The Hill

• “Those lawmakers, I think they are looking for headlines. And unfortunately, today it’s very easy to get headlines when you attack Israel, and that’s why they continue to do that,” — Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the U

The Hill

• “We listen to our allies and our colleagues, and we are aware of the situation,” — Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the U

The Hill

• “It’s very hard to coordinate, I can tell you, I’m in the details,” — Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the U

The Hill

These remarks encapsulate Danon’s view that criticism of Israel is driven by political opportunism, that Israel remains attentive to its allies, and that scheduling challenges constrain diplomatic engagements.

The Hill