Danon Clashes with UN Envoy After Israel Added to Sexual Violence Blacklist

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon clashed on Friday with Virginia Gamba? No, with Vanessa Fraser, the UN secretary-general’s representative on children and armed conflict, during a UN event in New York. The confrontation followed Danon’s earlier attack on Pramila Patten, the secretary-general’s envoy on conflict-related sexual violence, whom he said should resign.

At the center of the dispute is the UN’s decision to place Israeli bodies on a blacklist of states and organizations accused of committing sexual violence in conflict zones. During his speech, Fraser tried to interrupt him, and Danon responded sharply: “You yielded to pressure, to the secretary-general’s obsession with targeting Israel. Be quiet, because I am speaking now. You spoke, now I am speaking. Shame on you. You are part of the persecution of Israel. You can leave.” He also said, “Ms. Patten was invited here and chose not to be here. You will let me finish my remarks. Shameful, you are part of this shameful conduct. You work for the UN and you will respect UN rules. We will not allow you to persecute us.”

Danon told the audience that Israel had been listed alongside Hamas, ISIS and Boko Haram, calling it “a moral disgrace” that would be remembered as one of António Guterres’ biggest stains. He accused Patten of backing a political move against Israel without examining the evidence and without giving Israel a chance to respond. “If fact-checking is not Patten’s job, then what exactly is her job?” he asked.

Israeli officials said heavy pressure was put on Guterres after Hamas was added to the blacklist, in order to also include Israel. Over the past year, Danon and his team met several times with the secretary-general’s representative and her staff, sent documents and data responding to the allegations, and invited UN officials to visit Israel and review the claims firsthand.

Despite that, Israeli officials said Guterres chose to push what they described as a political decision to include Israel. In response, Israel froze ties with the secretary-general’s office and canceled Patten’s planned visit to Israel, saying it would not maintain relations with Guterres’ office while he remains in charge.