Amid attempts by anti-Israel countries to deny the profound Jewish ties to Jerusalem, Ambassador Danon and Mayor Barket led UN diplomats on a tour of the City of David, where they saw undeniable evidence of the ancient Jewish connection to their eternal capital.
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon led nine of his fellow UN ambassadors on a tour of Jerusalem’s City of David. The delegation, which is in Israel on a trip organized by American Jewish Committee (AJC) Project Interchange, was guided by Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat at the historic site.
David Be’eri, director and founder of the City of David and 2017 recipient of the Israel Prize, also joined the tour.
“To defeat the lies spread about our capital city at the UN, nothing is more important than for my fellow ambassadors to learn the truth about Jerusalem and see the beauty of this city firsthand,” Danon said. “The more UN ambassadors visit Israel, the more they appreciate both the challenges we face and the opportunities that exist in our region. This is why I have visited Israel with over 30 UN ambassadors over the past year alone and will bring more in the months to come.”
Barkat showed the ambassadors the remains of the Shiloah Pool – an ancient ritual pool dating back to the Second Temple period – and numerous archaeological findings from the City of David that unambiguously link the Jewish people to Jerusalem. These findings strongly contradict claims that deny the historical connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.
Inscription on Ancient Coin: ‘For the Liberation of Zion’
Barkat told the ambassadors: “The coin you see in my hands, found In the City of David excavations, is emblazoned with the inscription, ‘For the Liberation of Zion.’ This coin is one of thousands that we find at our feet which unequivocally prove the Jewish and Christian roots in Jerusalem. Today, we work to fulfill the imperative emblazoned on the coin: Jerusalem, under Israeli sovereignty, is free and open to people of all religions, beliefs, and backgrounds.”
During their visit to Israel, the delegation of nine ambassadors – from Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Asia Pacific region – will gain a deeper understanding of the geopolitical and security challenges facing the Jewish state. Among the ambassadors taking part in the delegation are the representatives of Australia, Estonia, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Poland, and Togo.
In March, Barkat took another six United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) ambassadors on a similar tour, also organized by the AJC. The efforts at educating these UN officials on the history of Jerusalem, the eternal Jewish capital, are especially relevant now as enemies of the Jewish state work to deny the Jewish claim to the Holy City. Just two months ago, Israel labeled a UNESCO resolution passed on Israel’s Independence Day, which rejected Israeli sovereignty and jurisdiction over Jerusalem, “fake history” and “absurd.”
The 41st session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, currently meeting in Krakow, Poland, until July 12, will vote not only on Jerusalem, but also on the Old City of Hebron – including the Tomb of the Patriarchs – which the PA demands be registered under the “State of Palestine.”
By: United with Israel Staff
With files from the Israeli Mission to the United Nations
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