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Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour. (UNTV via AP)
“Shame on you! Instead of condemning terror, you’re encouraging it,” Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon told Palestinian representative Riyad Mansour.
In a dramatic confrontation at the UN, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations and the non-profit One Family on Monday hosted Natan and Renana Meir, the widower and daughter of Dafna Meir, at a special meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on the precarious security situation in Israel, which turned into a rare shouting match between the Israeli and Palestinian representatives.
Danon opened his remarks by noting that “The endless incitement and the ongoing glorification of violence,” by the Palestinians “is directly responsible for the murder of innocent Israelis.”
He then criticized the UNSC for failing to condemn terrorism against Israelis, despite the wave of ongoing violence over the past seven months which has claimed the lives of 33 victims and wounded over 400.
“Since no one else will ask the hard questions, I will,” said Danon. He turned to Palestinian representative Riyad Mansour and asked: “Are you ready right now to denounce terror against innocent Israelis?”
“We condemn the killing of all innocent civilians including Palestinian civilians. Do you do the same?” Mansour retorted, dodging a direct condemnation of Palestinian terror attacks.
When the Palestinian representative refused to do so, Danon denounced him saying “Shame on you! Instead of denouncing terror, you are encouraging it!”
In his speech at the UNSC, Danon recounted the story of Daphna Meir who was murdered at the entrance of her home in Otniel, by a fifteen year-old Palestinian. Three of Meir’s children were home at the time. Daphna fought with her attacker, saving her children’s lives. The terrorist later admitted that he was inspired to kill by video clips and other hate filled content on Palestinian TV and social media.
Danon accused the Palestinians of teaching “hatred” in schools and naming streets after terrorists and demanded that these practices stop.
Danon reiterated that when the Palestinians end their “campaign of hate and violence,” and teach respect for all people in their schools, “they will find a partner ready to work with them for the promise of peace.”
“Natan and Renana are here with us in this chamber sitting behind me,” said Danon.
“The Palestinian culture of hate and constant brainwashing is responsible for the loss of too many Israelis. And it is directly responsible for the murder of Dafna Meir,” he concluded.
At the opening of the Council meeting Natan and Renana Meir noted that “It is difficult to express in words the deep pain and unbearable longing. This sense of loss breaks our heart and our soul. With broken hearts we ask the international community for help. We hear those who say that terror is a result of frustration, and we ask – is there anything more frustrating than what we have endured?”
One Family, an Israeli non-profit which cares for those who have been bereaved or injured in terrorist attacks, accompanied the Meir’s on their visit to New York.
“The impact of terrorism can only be understood through the stories of the victims themselves,” said Chantal Belzberg, Executive Vice-Chairman of One Family. “We believe that Natan and Renana’s perspective on terror is important to anyone who wants to understand what is happening to the people of Israel, and especially to those who want to put an end to this horror. By bringing them to New York we hope to bring this unique vision to the world and ultimately defeat terrorism,” Belzberg concluded.
By: Max Gelber, United with Israel
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