United Nations – Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon’s speech several weeks ago has taken on a new life on social media and YouTube as translations into different languages have propelled the “biblical speech” well beyond the walls of the United Nations building.
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Wearing a kippah and reading from the Bible, Danon defended Israel’s right to the land of Israel.
Since then, translations into Spanish, Polish, French, Portuguese and Turkish have swept the internet. Last week, on Israel’s Independence Day, CNN brought Danon on to discuss the speech where he reiterated the Jewish state’s historical and moral claims to the country that many local Arab residents would like to see as Palestine.
A Palestinian media outlet published a lengthy editorial decrying the speech.
”From the book of Genesis; to the Jewish exodus from Egypt; to receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai; to the gates of Canaan; and to the realization of God’s covenant in the Holy Land of Israel; the Bible paints a consistent picture. The entire history of our people, and our connection to Eretz Yisrael, begins right here,” Danon stated at the UN Security council in New York.
He continued referencing the Balfour Declaration of 1917, the League of Nations mandate of 1922, and the United Nations charter of 1945 as all legitimizing Israel’s right to self-determination.
“The speech has resonated thanks to the strength of the truth. Its success has been welcome news as we conveyed to the world the strength of the eternal connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel,” Danon stated about the speech going viral.
In the speech, Danon put forward four pillars on which peace would be based in the future. This includes: Palestinians recognition of Israel as a Jewish state; an end to Palestinians incitement; regional cooperation and acceptance of Israel’s security needs.
The 1948 armistice lines that marked the end of the Independence War, “were never considered international borders. They were simply lines designating the end of the first battle in the Arab war against Israel,” Danon said.
“It was the Arabs who insisted that the armistice lines would not be permanent borders,” he added.
“Because these lines are not borders, the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, to this day, do not cross any international borders. They are built on strategic land for Israel’s security and, as agreed by the parties in the Oslo Accords, would be classified as final status issues,” he concluded.
On the issue of security, he noted that Arab leaders had chosen violence long before settlements were built. The PLO was established in 1964, three years prior to the Six Day War in 1967.
“What did they need to liberate before 1967? And in 1964, not a single settlement existed in Judea and Samaria, and our right to exist was still rejected,” he said.
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansor who spoke before Danon said that it was the Palestinians who had a historic and legal right to the land.
In a follow-up interview to his UN speech, Danon told CNN’s Becky Anderson he didn’t see territorial comprise as an intelligent way towards peace. “The fact is Israel withdrew from Gaza completely in 2005, we don’t have any so-called settlements, no occupation in Gaza. Hamas took over a few months after we left Gaza, and today look what happened. Hamas is committing a double war crime, targeting the Israeli civilian population while hiding behind the poor people in Gaza”
An ambassador since 2015, Danon previously served as Deputy Defense Minister.
Danon should be applauded for recognizing the truth. But he must also be honest that the everlasting compact has clauses that must be complied with.
B”h, as every day passes, more Torah is being learned in Eretz Yisroel and the officer corps of the IDF is now majority observers of Torah Umitzvos. Maaser and terumah stringencies are being observed. We are not yet perfect, but our ratzon
Cool. All he has to do now is convince everyone living there he is right and they are wrong.
I do not recall anyone putting on a Kippah in the UN and quoting from the Torah before. It reminds me of the Rashi that says Hashem created the world (that’s why the Torah starts with creation) and He can give E”Y to whomever He wants. Wow
In that same Torah he is so prominently displaying it states about Shmiras Shabbos, moral laws etc.. the Torah is not a shmogas board where u can pick and choose what you decide to keep
Though the UN might not like to hear this, it is very straightforward. His emphasis on Torah is straightforward.
Hey secular Zionists listen to Danny your only claim to Eretz Yisroel is our holy Torah start following what it says and klal Yisroel will have our long awaited yeshua