Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon defended Israel’s presence in the West Bank on Wednesday during a UN Security Council meeting focused on the situation in the region.
“The Security Council must recognize a simple truth: We are not going anywhere. The Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria will remain and continue to develop,” Danon said.
Rejecting the characterization of Israeli settlements as an obstacle to peace, Danon said they are “not temporary outposts, but homes, families, and strong, beautiful communities.”
He also emphasized what he described as the Jewish people’s historic connection to the territory, saying the West Bank is where the “eternal bond with the Land of Israel” began.
Danon further accused the Security Council of applying a double standard when addressing violence involving Israelis and Palestinians.
West Bank violence – Report: Settlers injure several Palestinians, set homes on fire
Danon even criticized the Council for focusing on violence committed by Israeli settlers while, in his view, failing to give sufficient attention to what he described as hundreds of Palestinian terrorist attacks. “When it comes to Israelis, the Council tarnishes an entire population. When Palestinians carry out attacks, it only talks about the terrorists themselves. That is not justice,” he said.