At the entrance of the United Nations headquarters in New York City, visitors are met with a striking exhibit about Gaza. Yet what it omits speaks louder than what it shows.
There is no mention of Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2006. It ignores the October 7 massacre that sparked the current Israel-Hamas war and makes no mention of the hostages still held captive. While some have since been released, 20 Israeli hostages are still believed to be alive in Gaza.
This silence reflects a broader pattern at the UN, one of targeting Israel while ignoring facts that don’t fit the prevailing narrative. In an exclusive interview with V24, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, says the hostility toward Israel inside the organization has reached unprecedented levels.
Danon, who previously served as ambassador from 2015 to 2020, returned to the UN in 2024. He describes the current climate as even more aggressive than during his first term.
Principles Replaced by Politics
The UN was founded to promote peace, dialogue, and cooperation. As a full member state, Israel should be treated like any other. But Danon argues that the institution has lost its way. Rather than serving as a neutral forum, it now platforms those who glorify violence and excuses the behavior of terrorist groups. Hamas operatives have infiltrated UNRWA, and Western donor money continues to fund extremism.
Despite his deep criticism, Danon does not call for Israel to walk away from the UN. He still believes in the potential of the institution, if it is reformed. That reform, he says, must include a clear stance against terrorism and a renewed commitment to fairness, neutrality, and accountability.
Israel, Danon adds, is not above criticism. But it should not be held to a standard no other nation faces. He points out the hypocrisy: while conflicts in places like Syria, Yemen, or Ukraine go relatively unchecked, Israel is singled out relentlessly. “That’s not diplomacy,” Danon says. “That’s antisemitism in disguise.”
Western Drift
One of the most troubling shifts, Danon says, is coming from parts of Western Europe. Governments led by left-wing coalitions particularly in Ireland, Norway, and Spain, have adopted increasingly anti-Israel stances. Danon attributes this in part to changing demographics. As migrant populations grow, political parties increasingly cater to voices sympathetic to Palestinian causes, even when those causes are aligned with extremism.
Shielding Hamas from condemnation, Danon warns, empowers radicals and undermines moderate Palestinians. The UN’s failure to formally denounce the October 7 massacre or demand the release of Israeli hostages is, in his view, a disgrace.
He notes that Middle Eastern leaders share similar concerns. The UAE’s foreign minister has warned that Europe could soon become a greater breeding ground for Islamist radicalism than the Middle East itself. Danon doesn’t wade deeply into Europe’s internal affairs, but he does observe a worrying trend: rising anti-Jewish riots, public intimidation, and erosion of free speech.
Qatar, meanwhile, plays a more subtle role. The Gulf state maintains ties with Western powers while funding groups like Hamas and shaping public opinion through media. The UN even accepted a building donated by Qatar. Danon says Qatar must make a choice: support peace or stop pretending to be a neutral actor while enabling terror.
The Real War: Between Civilization and Extremism
Beneath all of this, Danon sees a deeper threat: Iran. Hamas is only one arm of a broader network of Iranian proxies, which includes Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. These groups not only endanger Israel but also attack global trade routes and threaten regional and international stability.
Danon believes the West must confront the root cause. It’s not enough to sanction or target the proxies. Tehran itself must be isolated if any hope of lasting peace is to emerge.
When asked what would happen if Israel were to disappear, Danon’s response is clear: it won’t. Israel is strong, sovereign, and here to stay. But he poses a haunting question: if Israel were gone, who would be next? The radical forces that target Jews today would turn on each other or their neighbors. Some already have.
Danon’s final message to the West is blunt: Wake up. Radical ideologies are not someone else’s problem. They are already embedded in Western cities. What begins with hatred of Jews often ends with widespread violence and civil breakdown. The fight Israel is fighting is not only for its own survival, it is a front line in the battle to protect democratic values from radical totalitarianism.
The question, Danon says, is whether the West is still willing to defend those values, or whether it will surrender them, one UN resolution at a time.
Adam Starzynski
Journalist | Foreign Policy Analyst
