After five years as ambassador to the UN, in which "I changed my mind and moved from defense to attack", Danny Danon does not intend to rest • "Being Israel's ambassador is not exile, I returned with international experience and personal acquaintance with leaders" • "Likud members appreciate the dedication , And I deserve the leadership of the movement in the future "

• Danon. "I've always been involved in foreign affairs and information. It burned in me."

  Photo: 

  Kfir Ziv

Meet the new Danny Danon. No more the character from "Great Country", or the man who faced Netanyahu and Feiglin in the primaries and lost: After five years as Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon wants you to call him state. He has no intention of clashing with Netanyahu again as he once did - now he will wait for the day after , And will try his luck against the other senior Likud figures, who will run for chairman.

Shdanon (49) has been in Israel for a month, and this week the family also returned - his wife Tali (48) and children Aviad (18), Hila (15) and Shira (13). "I was the pioneer force, who came to prepare the ground for the return of the family," he smiles. "We had a dog there, it turns out that it is not an easy process to bring him to Israel." They live in Moshav Mishmeret in the Sharon, and their son Aviad is due to enlist in the IDF this coming March.

What have you managed to do since you returned?

"First of all, I went into solitary confinement. Then I went to my mother's Friday dinner. This is the thing you miss the most when you are away from home, Mother's Bukharian foods, like Oshpalo. The last time we were in the country was on Sukkot last year.

" My mother, Yocheved, She is 78. My father died a few years after being wounded in a battle with terrorists in the Jordan Valley during the war of attrition. During the Corona period she was alone, and had a hard time. My brothers were with her, but still, had to keep their distance.

"Also in terms of the corona, the atmosphere in the country is better than what happens in New York, even though the numbers in New York are better than in Israel. In Israel you see people going to the sea, walking around, living their lives. New York has a depressing atmosphere. Add to that the demonstrations and police that stopped working. As she knows, and you will see that in terms of personal security, this is no longer what it used to be. " 

In five years the children become Americans?

"They are not American. They are Israelis. They were in Jewish schools and kept in touch with friends from the country on WhatsApp, Facebook and social networks. Now they have friends in the United States who will have a hard time breaking up with them.

"These transitions are not easy. There is a hard time when you come, and there is a hard time when you come back. But coming back is easier. In general, it was a very family-bonding experience, especially during the Corona period, when we were all home for a long time. I also worked from home in Zoom. "It was closed." 

***

What is your greatest achievement?

"Change of perception. We went from defense to attack. The UN was the only playground of the Palestinians. Everything they wanted, they got. Everything was against us, and we responded when needed. What I did was not just defend but attack, initiate. We did events at the UN, we brought to the UN Natan Meir (who lost his late wife Dafna in the attack on Othniel) and his daughter Renna, and the Goldin family. They met with representatives of countries. We were loyal, we did exhibitions, events, we drove the system crazy. 

“I ran for the chairmanship of the UN Judiciary Committee. A difficult and important place. People at the UN said to me, 'This is not the Likud center, you are not running for everything you want.' I said, 'Sorry, why not ?! We are members of the UN, paying the taxes.' Support had to be obtained. I said that if I saw that it was going to catastrophe, to be humiliated, I would ban my candidacy.

"Fortunately, I have political experience. I started a quiet campaign. I brought the support of friends, and when it came to a secret ballot, it succeeded. For the first time in history, he chaired an Israeli committee. This is significant. The Palestinians went berserk. It was inconceivable to them that an Israeli Will serve as chairman of a committee. 

"In December 2018, I raised at the General Assembly, together with then-US Ambassador Nicki Haley, who was a good friend of mine, a condemnation of Hamas as a terrorist organization. Before I took office it was inconceivable, we have no grip or majority there."

Has the offer passed?

"No, because we need a large majority. But the fact that we brought the General Assembly to discuss Hamas as a terrorist organization is a tremendous achievement for me and Nicky.

" The personal meetings were a great success, I brought the families of victims of terrorism to the Security Council. It is very difficult to explain this to ambassadors without them meeting the people. When they hear them, see pictures, see what it has done to families, everything changes. Then when you explain that the killer gets $ 4,000 every month, it creates a very strong effect. This brings about a change in the perception of countries. 

“The move to attack has driven the UN crazy. We created an agenda that drove the Palestinians crazy. Suddenly there are discussions in the Security Council about the prisoners and the missing, about Hamas as a terrorist organization, about paying salaries to terrorists. Add to that the soft diplomacy - like bringing in experts from Israel to meet ambassadors from Africa on agricultural issues, where we can help them. That's important. "

So the UN is pro-Israel today?

"No. It is still a place with negative energies against us. But there is improvement. There is still a majority against Israel in decisions, but there is improvement. 160 countries have international relations with us, it is very beautiful. Look at the relations with the leaders from Africa: in the past they were automatic Against us, today is not the case. There is excellent bilateral relations.

"I did an event at the UN with the Prime Minister in the fall of 2016, I invited representatives of different countries. The State Department told me that no one would come, because that evening a dinner with President Obama is planned for all leaders. "I pressed, I said we would bring Israeli technology there. More than a dozen leaders came, including heads of state in Africa, who sat with Netanyahu. This is not an event that would have happened ten years ago."

So we are not in a political tsunami?

"On the contrary, there is no tsunami. We have a renaissance period. We are seeing the boom. Look at the peace agreement with the UAE.

" I had the opportunity to visit the UAE three years ago. In fact, relations with the UAE existed. I had the opportunity to cooperate with the UAE ambassador several times, it was secret, we had to meet quietly in hotel rooms. "

What did you talk about?

" Hezbollah, Iran, cooperation, many issues. "

So all the big noise around the peace agreement with The Emirates is an exaggeration? You say we already had a relationship with them. 

"What's new is the publicity. I tried and pushed them out of the closet. Publicity is important, it can lead more countries to similar agreements. "

So you also need to get credit for the agreement. 

" I learned that unlike politics, where credit is like bread and you owe it, in diplomacy you do a lot of things without getting credit. In the last five years, I have taken part in significant and great things, and I have not taken credit. "

***

How do you do foreign relations when Netanyahu is the prime minister? After all, this is his pitch, he's in touch with the leaders.

"It was very convenient for me. In four of the five years I served at the UN, Netanyahu also served as foreign minister. This means that you work in front of one person who knows, understands and knows what to do. In addition, when they were looking for an address for policy issues and the Prime Minister could not vacate, they contacted me for everything. It allowed me a lot of room for maneuver. " 

What can you add in front of a person who comes to Trump or Putin on the phone and closes everything directly in front of them?

" In 2016, UN Resolution 2334 was approved, stating that Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem territories, referred to by the Security Council as the "Occupied Palestinian Territories," were illegal. From vetoing.

"I was in a meeting with the Russian ambassador, and there I found out that another decision was being prepared against us. It was supposed to be more serious, and talk about the vision of the Palestinian state, back to the 1967 borders, the division of Jerusalem, etc. I got in the car, asked the driver and security guard to leave. Act with Putin, who sent a message to the Americans, and the decision was thwarted.

"When you have direct contact with the prime minister, and when he has power over leaders, that is an advantage, not a disadvantage. It strengthened my role there. "

What do the differences between the Obama era and the Trump era look like?

" We also collaborated during the Obama era, with Ambassador Samantha Power. There was support from the United States, but quiet. Nicki Haley's era was definitely something else. She came to Israel with me, spoke for Israel, supported us publicly. 

"She was honored in the Arab world, and it was a great time for Israel to support. "She has stood firm with us against Iran, which is working against us."

***

It was recently reported that government officials attacked you, after you said you were considering replacing Vice President Pence with Nicky Haley ahead of the upcoming U.S. election. They said of you, "He was always far from the decision-makers.

" "I said there were rumors in the Republican Party ahead of the election. As time goes on, the chances of this happening are slim. But there was a discourse on the subject within the party.

"My work with the Americans was good, especially in the struggle against Iran. We were able to expose Iran regarding relationships and their support for Hezbollah, we talked about it that Iran is a source of evil. We gathered intelligence and Tftfno it all the time delegates Europeans. This long drawn out process.

" We explained to the Iranians Not only do we speak against Israel but we also act, we explained that just as Erdogan's rhetoric is dangerous, he is less dangerous than Iran, which not only speaks but actually does things. The sanctions imposed on Iran are important, international pressure is important. There have been and still are tough debates with European factors, which have not extended the arms embargo on Iran. US pressure on big companies is doing its thing, companies like Volvo and Airbus are afraid of US sanctions and are afraid to invest in Iran. This is a very important thing. "You

attacked Netanyahu over the issue of sovereignty, saying that it was a disappointment, and that the government should declare sovereignty without regard to the will of the United States.

"My ability to say things as they are, for better or worse, is where I get appreciation. That's how I act all my life. The agreement with the Emirates is a tremendous agreement, but at the same time, there is a sense of disappointment that sovereignty has not yet come to fruition. 

"Five years ago, when I raised the issue on my lips, I was underestimated. Did not understand how I even talk about the subject. Today it is on the table. Although it has been postponed, and we do not know for how long, but the issue on the public agenda, it can not be underestimated. It may take some time, but I believe it should happen, and it will happen. "The

Americans explicitly said it was off the table.

" In the Middle East, everything is dynamic. Everything can change. "Once they did not think it was possible to bring the US embassy to Jerusalem, and it happened. Sovereignty is certainly not happening at the moment, but the issue still exists. It should be pushed and promoted. It will not harm peace with the Palestinians, it will bring peace with them."

You said that sovereignty should be promoted even without regard to the demands of the Americans. 

"This is a decision that needs to be made by the Israeli government." 

And quarrel with the most pro-Israel government that has been here?

"We have to make our decisions. In the long run it will lead to applause from the US. Look at Olmert, who I am not exactly a follower of. He decided to attack the reactor in Syria. Bush told him before the attack, do not do it. Bush wrote in his book that after the attack he told Olmert that he now re-evaluates the Israelis.

"The decision should be ours. Unfortunately, the issue is off the agenda right now. It could be that in a year or two the issue will come up again, and there will be another opportunity."

***

What are you going to do now?

"Nicky Haley told me a smart thing: Do not rush to make decisions and make statements. My home is the Likud, and I intend to work in the public arena with a lot of energy and strength. I am not under pressure from what I do tomorrow morning, do not want to hurry. My agenda fills up very quickly "He who has a desire to change, does not sit at home and wait, he acts. He initiates. I am not one who sits quietly." 

When there are Likud primaries, do you think you will be able to be re-elected?

"Likud members appreciate the dedication, determination and respect I brought to the State of Israel. I do not think I have a problem today being elected to the Likud."

To the top ten? the second?

"Before I went to the UN, I was elected to high places in the top ten." 

But we have been very crowded there in recent years. 

"True. They are all good guys. "

Will you run against Netanyahu again?

" I ran against the prime minister twice, in 2007 and in 2014. I guess there will be no seven-year cycle, because there will be no tackling in 2021. But I definitely see myself as a candidate for the Likud leadership after the Netanyahu era. "

But you will not face him again. 

" The prime minister today represents the Likud's ways in a respectful manner. In the past, we have had difficult disagreements about the construction freeze and the like. "

So you change direction significantly. 

" It is possible that the service at the UN brought me back with patience. "

And perhaps you understand, like all Likud members, that it is impossible to face Netanyahu, and that this could do harm among the functionaries? 

"If the prime minister had not upheld the Likud's values, I would have faced him. But he does."

You say you are disappointed that he did not keep his promise of sovereignty. 

"There is no 100 percent. But if tomorrow the government would freeze construction in Judea and Samaria, I was talking to another."

If I close my tape recorder, can be telling other things I've seen, like Gideon Sa'ar, there was no way to run against him?

"My character I Loves coping. Every confrontation is a victory for me. But the direction I am building today is confrontation after the Netanyahu era. I see myself as someone who comes with baggage and capabilities. Once Netanyahu leaves the political game in government and the movement, it is difficult to predict what will happen. I consider myself worthy of leading the movement the day after. "

What do you think of the current government?

" A very problematic government. It's like a married couple who quarrel and can't dismantle the house now because of the kids. This is a very difficult time, financially and health-wise. The right thing to do now is hello home. It may not hold, but we have to go through this wave, and maybe then unpack the package. " 

What do you think of the demonstrations in Balfour?

" First of all, it is important for me to say that there is no room for violence against police. That's the limit. There is a right to demonstrate, but there is no right to attack police officers. The protesters should be divided into three types: those who come for an economic reason, and I can identify with them; Those who are politically disappointed, who did not vote for Netanyahu or who voted for Ganz and are angry that he went with Netanyahu; And troublemakers and title seekers. I do not connect to these, I think they do damage to the first two types. " 

In short, you came back pragmatic.

" I would not call it pragmatic. I would call it my state. After five years in the job, you see things differently. "

Adolescence?

" I come with an additional toolbox, with a further understanding of the international system. My values ​​are the same values. "

Will you go to the studios to defend the prime minister?

" The prime minister is doing the right things. I could not engage in political affairs as an ambassador, but now I can defend Likud policy. "

If you could choose a portfolio, what would you choose?

" I would like to be foreign minister. "

Do you still hear the jokes about not differentiating between yourself and Ophir Akunis?

" "Before I went to the UN there were more. Today much less. It's nice. Entertaining."

In the past, you were ridiculously imitated in "Wonderland." When you receive the space bag (for three months), put your character in an astronaut suit. 

"It's because I'm Danny Danon, who did not come from the right milieu for them. Jacob Perry was the Minister of Science and Space before me, and they did not laugh at him. That's how it is when you are on the right. "

judash0@walla.com