Haley: 'UN was being such a bully to Israel, because they could'
America's UN ambassador has made many friends due to her pro-Israel stance at the traditionally hostile UN; in visit to Israel she declares, 'We're seeing a change of tone in New York.'
Visiting US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said Wednesday she is seeing a change in perception of Israel at the UN headquarters in New York, declaring: "It is a new day for Israel at the United Nations."
"If there's anything I have no patience for is bullies, and the UN was being such a bully to Israel, because they could," Haley, who harshly criticized the UN Human Rights Council's behavior towards Israel on Tuesday, told Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
"I think they know they can't keep responding in the way they've been responding. They sense that the tone has changed," she added.
"We were talking with some Ambassadors in Geneva—who are all on the Human Rights Council—about Agenda Item Seven, and some of them were embarrassed by it. They acknowledge the fact that it just makes no sense. You can't sit there, and of all countries, Israel?"
She also argued that all she did was "tell the truth, and it's kind of overwhelming at the reaction. It was a habit. It was something that we're so used to doing."
Netanyahu thanked Haley "for all your help and standing up for Israel, standing up for the truth, which is standing up for America. Actually, I think its standing up for the UN as it was originally conceived. People appreciate truth."
"We have an ancient Hebrew saying that when somebody tells a truth, you can feel it," Netanyahu went on to say. "So people feel it, they not only understand it, they feel it. And we feel it. We're glad to see the fruits of your efforts, uncommon common sense. And it's the way people react across a very wide spectrum."
Haley also met with President Reuven Rivlin, who heaped praise on her as well, saying, "Israel is no longer alone at the UN. Israel is no longer the UN’s punching bag.
"When I spoke at the UN on Holocaust Memorial Day, I said that the UN must learn from the lessons of the past, and stand up against hatred and racism. I said it must end its obsession with targeting Israel. Progress has been made. Israel’s standing at the UN has improved. But sadly, we have a long way to go. Both in holding to account, public statements made by officials, and in supporting regulation to reduce the ridiculous number of discussions and resolutions against Israel. This is also true in the Human Rights Council - which has been hijacked as a weapon against Israel - and in UNESCO, where they seek to rub out the history of the Jewish people."
"Ambassador Haley, as the representative the US—Israel’s greatest and strongest ally—we appreciate very much your support of Israel, and all you do to stand up for the values of freedom and democracy which we share," Rivlin added.
(Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg)
