Israel’s Danon praises UAE’s Nusseibeh but stops short of backing her UN bid

Israel is not publicly backing Lana Nusseibeh’s candidacy for United Nations secretary-general, Ambassador Danny Danon told i24NEWS on Monday, while praising the Emirati diplomat’s experience and ability to lead the organization.

“I have known Ambassador Nusseibeh for many years. I served with her at the UN. She’s a skilled diplomat. She has a lot of experience,” Danon said. “I think that she has the tools to lead the organization, like other candidates that also have the tools.”

Asked directly whether Israel supported her bid, Danon said Israeli representatives were meeting candidates and maintaining dialogue, but were not publicly endorsing anyone.

“We are not publicly supporting any candidate,” he said, noting that Israel is not a member of the Security Council, which recommends a candidate for appointment by the General Assembly.

Nusseibeh’s candidacy comes from the United Arab Emirates, an Abraham Accords partner with which Danon said Israel has a “very strong relationship.”

“We value the partnership,” he said, while cautioning against assuming that a candidate’s national background would determine their conduct in office.

“Once the candidate is elected, he is independent,” Danon said. “He’s not taking orders from either region or country.”

Danon made clear that Israel was eager for a change of leadership after António Guterres’s tenure.

“It’s about time that Secretary Guterres will be out of office,” he said, criticizing the outgoing secretary-general’s record, particularly during his second term.

Israel’s priority, Danon said, was a successor committed to combating antisemitism and reforming the UN.

Asked whether one leader could address what Israel describes as institutional bias, Danon argued that a determined secretary-general could bring change. He said American counterparts shared his expectations for reform.

“The main question is … whether the candidate is able to reform this organization,” he said, calling for the UN to return to its core values.

Danon distinguished between criticism of Israeli policy and what he described as disproportionate scrutiny of the country.

“We have no problem to be criticized, but we have issues with double standards, we have issues with obsession,” he said, arguing that resources devoted to targeting Israel distracted the organization from other global problems.

With Israelis heading to the polls on Tuesday, Danon also identified expanding the Abraham Accords as a leading diplomatic priority for the next government.

He said Israel should use the remaining two years of US President Donald Trump’s term to pursue further agreements.

“We should seize the moment,” Danon said. “We should think what we can do with him in the next two years.”