Just as Dermer turned the White House into a diplomatic battlefield, Danon will do the same at UN

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

http://mondoweiss.net/2015/08/turned-diplomatic-battlefield

The appointment by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu of one of his most hawkish and outspoken rivals as Israel’s new ambassador to the United Nations has prompted widespread consternation.

As one Israeli analyst noted last week, Danny Danon’s appointment amounts to a “cruel joke” on the international community. The new envoy “lacks even the slightest level of finesse and subtlety required of a senior diplomat”.

Last year Netanyahu sacked Danon as deputy defence minister, describing him as too “irresponsible” even by the standards of Israel’s usually anarchic politics. Danon had denounced the prime minister for “leftist feebleness” in his handling of Israel’s attack on Gaza last summer.

Danon is a UN official’s worst nightmare. He is a vocal opponent of a two-state solution and has repeatedly called for the annexation of the West Bank.

Let the hasbarist wailing, denunciations of anti-Sumptin and gnashing of teeth begin.

I wonder if Shelly had anything to do with this...

[Little Tich]

1. The only positive voice about Danon's appointment I could find came from Daniel Pipes,

the "renowned Middle-east scholar".

He's written an article about Danon, "The Right Moment for Israel's Danny Danon?" and in the Aug. 14, 2015 update he mentions Danon's UN appointment: "Danon will use this as a platform eloquently to promote his country's interests and to promote his own eventual candidacy for prime minister. A star has been born.".

There's no way I'm posting a link to Daniel Pipes' website, so there's no link.

[TubbersUK]

2. I agree, it's hard to see this appointment as anything other than an insult to the UN:

Danon hopes to “gain sovereignty over the majority of the land” in the West Bank, “with the minimum number of Palestinians,” he said.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/danny-danon-dismally-is-the-true-face-of-netanyahus-israel/

[oberliner]

3. Reminds me of when the US appointed John Bolton as UN ambassador

If that wasn't a slap in the face, I don't know what is.

[geek tragedy]

4. Chuck Schumer is a HUGE fan of John Bolton

In case people are wondering where all the venom being directed towards Schemer is coming from.

[oberliner]

5. The 3 senators who got in the way of John Bolton were Voinovich, Chafee, and Joe Lieberman

Remember When Chuck Hagel Voted for AIPAC-Supported John Bolton?

Excerpt:

Bolton got a recess appointment -- but he never got his confirmation vote. And who was the block on this great friend of Israel and anti-United Nations crusader?

Not Chuck Hagel. Try Senator Joseph Lieberman, who refused to vote in favor of cloture because the executive branch would not share vital but classified information with Congress -- either in the base-relocation debate or in the Bolton case. Then-Senator Lincoln Chafee gave another assist at the final stage of the battle -- but the three senators who got in the way of the AIPAC-desired John Bolton were George Voinovich, Joseph Lieberman, and Lincoln Chafee.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/12/remember-when-chuck-hagel-voted-for-aipac-supported-john-bolton/266486/

[geek tragedy]

6. Yes, Schumer was worse than Lieberman and a few Republicans nt