President Rivlin hosted a delegation of ambassadors to the United Nations from around the world and called on the UN Secretary-General to appoint a special envoy to combat anti-Semitism

President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin today, Wednesday 11 December / 13 Kislev, welcomed a delegation of ambassadors to the UN from around the world. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon, who is leading the delegation of 22 ambassadors, and leaders of the American Zionist Movement (AZM) and March of the Living also participated in the event.

The president welcomed the ambassadors to Israel and to Jerusalem, noting that over the last 72 years, Israel has been transformed from a developing state into a start-up nation and innovation hub. “Israelis see every challenge as an opportunity, and we are ready to share our expertise with all nations, in order to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals,” the president said.

On the question of how Israel is treated by UN institutions, the president emphasized, “Unfortunately, the UN treats Israel with bias and discrimination. This year, once again, the General Assembly adopted twenty resolutions condemning Israel, while ignoring the world’s worst human rights abusers. The real victims of this bias are the millions suffering from human rights violations around the world, who do not receive the attention they deserve. We are not asking to be immune from criticism. We are asking for equal treatment in the family of nations.”

The president noted the events to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, as part of which he will host world leaders in Jerusalem in January 2020, and called on the UN Secretary-General to appoint a special envoy to combat anti-Semitism. The president added, “The presidents of Russia, Germany, France, Italy and Austria, together with a representative of the United Kingdom and many other leaders, will come to Jerusalem, to discuss how we can fight anti-Semitism. We will come together to think about how to pass on Holocaust remembrance and what steps we must take to ensure the safety and security of Jews all around the world.”

Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon: “Despite the lack of clarity in Israeli politics, the ambassadors heard from President Rivlin about the State of Israel’s democratic values. By meeting Israel’s leaders and people, the ambassadors get to see Israel’s unique character, which helps to strengthen her standing in the family of nations.”