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Danon In First Speech to UNSC: Change Default Settings on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Israeli ambassador of Israel to the United Nations Danny Danon on Thursday called on the United Nations to “stop making excuses for the Palestinians, and start holding them accountable.”

This was Danon’s first speech to the UN Security Council since his appointment.

“The place where the status quo needs to change is here at the UN,” Danon said. “The UN must end its usual practice of calling on both sides to show restraint, and state clearly: there is one side that is instigating a wave of terror.”

“If the UN is truly interested in calming tensions and bringing peace to the region, it must change its default settings,” he added.

The Israeli Ambassador asked the UN to understand that the education system and the ongoing incitement in the Palestinian territories had contributed to the recent flare-up in violence and must not be ignored. “It’s no wonder that in this current wave of attacks, at least nine of the attackers have been Palestinians under the age of 18,” he said. “When children are taught hostility and hatred instead of math and science, when teenagers are encouraged to grab a knife instead of a book; when the youth are shown images of violence instead of a vision for peace – then they too are victims.”

“If the international community wishes to be constructive, it should focus on ending the incitement,” said Danon.

As far as Israel’s activity on the Temple Mount, Danon reiterated Israel’s commitment to maintaining the status quo, despite the “deliberate and malicious” lies speared by Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian leadership. “The Palestinians are employing old tactics and are trying to score easy victories without having to negotiate, or to recognize the Jewish State,” he said.

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