Israel’s envoy to UN elected chairman of standing committee
Published June 14, 2016
Ambassador Danon speaking to the press before the United Nations Security Council’s quarterly debate on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. (Albin Lohr-Jones/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nation, was elected chairman of the U.N. Legal Committee.
It is the first time ever that that an Israeli envoy has been chosen to head a permanent U.N. committee. Israel joined the United Nations in 1949.
The committee, also known as the Sixth Committee, deals with issues in international law.
Danon said in a post on Facebook that Iran, the Palestinians and several anti-Israel nations tried to stop the appointment. He thanked the countries that “stood beside Israel” in the historic appointment.
He received 109 out of 175 votes in the General Assembly.
