Israeli ambassador to the UN gets heated over sexual violence report

A UN meeting meant to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict descended into open confrontation on Friday, June 19, as Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon launched a blistering, personal assault on senior UN officials. Danon accused Vanessa Frazier, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, of having "caved" to political pressure, demanding her resignation and declaring that any "stain" from the proceedings belonged on her, not Israel.

When Frazier attempted to raise a procedural objection and defend the UN's findings as "verified evidence," Danon repeatedly ordered her to "be quiet," told her she was part of the "bullying of Israel," and called both her and her report "shameful".

A UN report released earlier verified 31 cases of conflict-related sexual violence involving Israeli forces in Gaza and the West Bank, findings serious enough to land Israel on the UN's blacklist of parties credibly accused of committing such abuses in wartime. Israel has categorically rejected the allegations.

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