Israeli Ambassador Erupts at UN Official Over Disgraceful Blacklist Decision

Clear Facts

• Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon confronted UN official Vanessa Frazier after a UN report placed Israel on a sexual violence blacklist alongside Hamas, ISIS, and Boko Haram
• The heated exchange occurred during a Friday UN meeting, with Danon accusing the UN of caving to political pressure and engaging in a shameful campaign against Israel
• Israel has frozen relations with UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ office and plans to file a formal complaint over the incident

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon delivered a scathing rebuke of Vanessa Frazier, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, during a Friday meeting marking the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. The confrontation erupted over Frazier’s role in a report that placed Israel on a sexual violence blacklist.

The pair shouted over each other as tensions boiled over during the public session.

“You caved to the pressure. You caved to the Secretary General’s obsession with targeting Israel. And in doing so,” Danon began before Frazier attempted to interrupt.

“Wait, I’m speaking now!” Danon shouted.

“No, you will be quiet, because I’m speaking now! You spoke, now I speak. You spoke, and now I’ll speak. Shame on you, you’re part of the bullying of Israel. Shame on you, you can walk out. You spoke now, I speak. You can walk out, shame on you! You’re part of this, you’re part of his obsession,” he continued.

The controversy stems from a May report by the United Nations Secretary-General’s office that listed Israeli entities in the annex of the UN’s annual Conflict-Related Sexual Violence report. The report specifically mentioned the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Prison Services, and the country’s border police Counter Terrorism Unit.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres labeled these organizations “a party credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other sexual violence.”

Danon had previously condemned the UN’s decision and announced a freezing of relations between Israel and Guterres’ office. In a statement, Danon’s office blasted the decision as a “stain” on the UN Secretary-General’s legacy.

“Israel has been placed on a blacklist alongside Hamas, ISIS, and Boko Haram. This is a moral disgrace that will be remembered as one of the darkest stains on António Guterres’ legacy,” he said.

During Friday’s meeting, Danon also called for UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten to resign. When Frazier attempted to defend Patten, Danon noted that Patten had chosen not to attend the meeting.

“Ms. Patten was invited here, she chose not to be here. You will allow me to finish my words. Shameful. You are part of this shameful behavior. You are a part of it. Shame on you. Shame on you,” Danon declared.

“I will speak and you will be quiet. You work for the U.N. and you will respect the rule of the U.N. Respect the rule. We will not allow you to bully us. We are a member state, and you work for the U.N., and you will be quiet now. You will be quiet. Shameful. You and your shameful report. We know why you took this position. We will not let you be part of this shameful campaign. I will finish my words. If you don’t want to listen, go out,” Danon continued.

The Israeli ambassador argued that Israel cooperated with the UN investigation, but that the organization did not independently review the evidence or give Israel a fair opportunity to address the allegations. He accused Patten of lending credibility to a politically motivated campaign against the Jewish state.

“If verifying the facts is not Ms. Patten’s responsibility, then what exactly is her responsibility?” Danon asked.

“You knew Israel had cooperated. You knew you had not reviewed the evidence yourself. Yet you chose to stand behind this falsehood. You should have said no. You should have resigned. You tried to stain Israel’s name. But the stain is not on Israel. The stain is on you,” he said during the UN meeting.

Danon’s office plans to file a formal complaint with the UN over Frazier’s interruptions during the meeting, according to his office.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.