Danon’s first statement to UN: Condemn Palestinian incitement

Says violence fueled by ‘inflaming children’s minds with hate’

NEW YORK – In his first appeal as ambassador to the UN, former science, technology and space minister Danny Danon urged the international body to condemn Palestinian incitement to terrorism “loud and clear.”

“A wave of terror continues to spread across the nation and it spares no one – babies, children, men and women,” Danon said. “Everyone is considered a walking target.”

In his statement addressed to the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council, the new ambassador stressed that “only the cessation of the incitement will alleviate this dangerous situation and bring calm and security to the region.

“Israelis do not feel safe walking down the street, they avoid taking the bus to work, and they fear for the lives of their children every time they walk out the door,” he added.

Danon pointed out that in the past three days, 12 attacks on Israeli citizens took place, and over the course of the past month, 24 attacks against Israelis took the lives of eight civilians and left 56 wounded.

“On Monday, in a particularly shocking and horrific attack, two Palestinian teenagers, one of them merely 13 years old, stabbed a 13-year-old boy riding his bicycle and an Israeli man who was walking down the street,” he said. “This was just one of the four attacks that took place on that day alone, three of which were carried out by minors.

“Such acts of pitiless slaughter” are a “direct result of Palestinian incitement,” Danon said.

The incitement “deliberately aims to inflame Palestinian children’s minds with hate,” and the attacks are a result of the propagation of “false allegations against Israel, in particular regarding the status quo on the Temple Mount, even though the prime minister clearly stated time and again that Israel is fully committed to maintaining it,” he said.

Danon took office as ambassador on Monday, replacing Ron Prosor who held the position for the past four years.

On Tuesday, Prosor held a last meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who expressed his appreciation for Prosor’s contribution.

“Four years ago, when I arrived at our mission to the UN, Israel was facing a challenging reality, and was fighting in the battle on public opinion. Today, upon my return to Israel, our reality remains complicated,” the outgoing ambassador wrote on his Facebook page.

“Throughout my time here at the UN, I have always said that I walk the halls of the United Nations, standing tall and proud, knowing who I represent and what I represent, and I’m going home with this same feeling,” he added.

Prosor said representing Israel at the UN was a privilege and wished his successor “the best of luck and strength to face any future battles.”