Shouting Erupts at UN After Israel Envoy’s Attempted Speech Interruption

A tense scene broke out over the weekend at the United Nations’ main event marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence in Conflict Areas, after Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, sharply attacked Pramila Patten, the UN secretary-general’s representative on violence in conflict, and called on her to resign.

During Danon’s speech, Vanessa Fraser, the secretary-general’s representative for children and armed conflict and the official behind the annual report that placed Israel on the UN blacklist over children, tried to cut him off. Her intervention triggered a loud confrontation in the hall.

Danon denounced the UN decision to add Israel to the blacklist on conflict violence, saying, “Israel was placed on the blacklist alongside Hamas, ISIS and Boko Haram. This is a moral disgrace that will be remembered as one of the biggest stains on Antonio Guterres’ legacy.” He accused Patten of backing a political move against Israel without checking the evidence herself and without giving Israel a fair chance to respond.

He also challenged her role, asking, “If fact-checking is not Patten’s job, then what exactly is her job?” Danon said Patten knew Israel had cooperated, knew she had not examined the evidence, and still chose to stand behind “this lie.” He ended by telling her she should have said no and resigned, concluding, “You tried to stain Israel. But the stain is not on Israel. The stain is on you.”