On March 25, 2026, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon was questioned by a reporter about Israel's secretive nuclear program and why it was justified for Israel to have a secretive nuclear program and why any other country in the Middle East does not have the same right.“Sir, everyone knows that Israel is a nuclear power. Former nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu fled Israel to London, and he gave that important interview with the Times of London, and he was kidnapped back to Israel and was arrested for 18 years,” said the reporter. He then asked, “Why does Israel have the right to acquire nuclear weapons, but no other Middle Eastern country has that same right?”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-child-torture-allegations-israel-detention-abuse-1774340931837">Palestinian media alleges 1-year-old boy 'tortured by Israeli forces' in Gaza to 'extract confession' from father</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Reporter: Why does Israel have the right to nukes, but no other Middle Eastern country has that same right? Israeli Amb. to UN Danny Danon: We want peace.<a href="https://t.co/DmN2H9l8x8">pic.twitter.com/DmN2H9l8x8</a>&mdash; Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href="https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/2036761394469552197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Danon responded that Israel is a stabilising force, it signs treaties, while Iran is an aggressor. “Israel is a stabilising force in the region. We want peace. Allow me to answer that. We sign peace treaties, we promote peace, we pray for peace. When you look at the Iranian regime, they are doing exactly the opposite,” said Dannon. He continued that Iran attacked 13 countries within a month, and Israel, in its entire 77 years of existence, did not attack 13 countries.&nbsp;The reporter again asked if he would be responding to the question of nuclear capability. “Can you answer my question about nuclear capabilities?” Dannon responded, “I did. Thank you.” Israel has never admitted to having nuclear power. It maintains a doctrine of nuclear-ambiguity, -or nuclear-opacity but ever since the revelations by whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu, it is widely believed that Israel does possess at least 90 nuclear warheads according to SIPRI and The Federation of American Scientists. Israel has never signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), while Iran has signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in 1996, the Partial Test Ban Treaty in 1963, and signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015 until Trump walked out of the deal in 2018.&nbsp;

At the UN, Danny Danon sidesteps a reporter’s question on Israel’s nuclear weapons, reigniting debate over nuclear double standards in the Middle East.

On March 25, 2026, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon was questioned by a reporter about Israel's secretive nuclear program and why it was justified for Israel to have a secretive nuclear program and why any other country in the Middle East does not have the same right. “Sir, everyone knows that Israel is a nuclear power. Former nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu fled Israel to London, and he gave that important interview with the Times of London, and he was kidnapped back to Israel and was arrested for 18 years,” said the reporter. He then asked, “Why does Israel have the right to acquire nuclear weapons, but no other Middle Eastern country has that same right?” Also Read: Palestinian media alleges 1-year-old boy 'tortured by Israeli forces' in Gaza to 'extract confession' from father

At the UN, Danny Danon sidesteps a reporter’s question on Israel’s nuclear weapons, reigniting debate over nuclear double standards in the Middle East.

Why can Israel have nukes? UN Reporter presses Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon on double standards

Israel's UN ambassador, Danny Danon, on Wednesday (Oct 30) called for the resignation of UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, accusing her of promoting anti-Semitic rhetoric and undermining human rights.

This follows Albanese's remarks to a UN General Assembly committee, in which she claimed that developments in recent months "cement my assessment that Israel is conducting a genocidal campaign against the Palestinians."

<h2>Baseless propaganda</h2>

Danon, posting on X, criticised Albanese's comments as "baseless propaganda and lies," and argued that her position at the UN lends credibility to her allegedly "anti-semantic" views.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-chief-antonio-guterres-warns-of-potential-ethnic-cleansing-in-gaza-calls-for-global-intervention-772154"> UN Chief António Guterres warns of potential 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza, calls for global intervention</a>

"Once again, the UN has rolled out the red carpet for one of the most anti-Semitic figures in modern history, granting her a stage to spew baseless propaganda and lies," he wrote.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Once again, the UN has rolled out the red carpet for one of the most antisemitic figures in modern history, granting her a stage to spew baseless propaganda and lies. 
Not a word was said about the 101 hostages still suffering at the hands of Hamas. 
No mention of Hamas or… <a href="https://t.co/f3oiUUvoyA">pic.twitter.com/f3oiUUvoyA</a>
— Danny Danon 🇮🇱 דני דנון (@dannydanon) <a href="https://twitter.com/dannydanon/status/1851659975421985203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Slamming Albanese directly, he added, "Your presence at the UN is a disgrace, a betrayal of all moral standards. Resign immediately. Leave your credentials at the door and join your friends at Hamas and Hezbollah, where you belong."

<h2>Albanese defends herself</h2>

Albanese, who has faced accusations of bias from Israel and its allies for years, defended her comments in a press briefing on Wednesday, asserting that her focus was on protecting Palestinian rights and was not directed at Judaism or Israel’s right to exist.

"I really don't feel comfortable at entertaining any longer discussions concerning the attacks against me, because it's not about me, and I'm not the story," she said.

Stressing her impartial mandate, she stated: "The story is the fact that there are Palestinians who risk to be erased from their land."

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Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/idf-says-its-lebanon-operations-have-achieved-key-goals-diplomacy-now-possible-771697" target="_blank">IDF says its Lebanon operations have achieved key goals, diplomacy now possible: Report</a>
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Albanese then called Israel's ally, the United States, an "enabler in what Israel has been doing."

Reacting to the statement, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield labelled Albanese "unfit" for the UN position and said: "The United Nations should not tolerate anti-Semitism from a UN-affiliated official hired to promote human rights".

Israel's UN mission in Geneva joined the criticism, saying Albanese's "distorted reality" reflects a personal bias, accusing her of being a "political activist who abuses an already discriminatory UN mandate".

"According to her hate-filled paradigm, the state of Israel has no historic reason to exist, no right to defend its population, and both the attack of October 7 and the rescue of hostages are merely used by Israel as an excuse."

"This distorted reality is a smokescreen to hide her hatred for Israel," it said.

"As a UN mandate holder, she has breached every possible rule of the UN code of conduct. She must immediately be held accountable for her continuous abuses," it added.

<h2>Why is Albanese under attack?</h2>

Albanese in her latest report, released on Tuesday (Oct 29) claimed that Israel's policies toward Palestinians constitute genocide aimed at displacement.

"The genocide of the Palestinians appears to be the means to an end: the complete removal or eradication of Palestinians from the land so integral to their identity, and which is illegally and openly coveted by Israel."

"Since its establishment, Israel has treated the occupied people as a hated encumbrance and threat to be eradicated, subjecting millions of Palestinians, for generations, to everyday indignities, mass killing, mass incarceration, forced displacement, racial segregation and apartheid," she wrote.

(With inputs from agencies)

Israel's UN ambassador, Danny Danon, on Wednesday (Oct 30) called for the resignation of UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, accusing her of promoting anti-Semitic rhetoric and undermining human rights.

Israel's UN ambassador, Danny Danon, on Wednesday (Oct 30) called for the resignation of UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, accusing her of promoting anti-Semitic rhetoric and undermining human rights. This follows Albanese's remarks to a UN General Assembly committee, in which she claimed that developments in recent months "cement my assessment that Israel is conducting a genocidal campaign against the Palestinians." Baseless propaganda Danon, posting on X, criticised Albanese's comments as "baseless propaganda and lies," and argued that her position at the UN lends credibility to her allegedly "anti-semantic" views. Also read | UN Chief António Guterres warns of potential 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza, calls for global intervention "Once again, the UN has rolled out the red carpet for one of the most anti-Semitic figures in modern history, granting her a stage to spew baseless propaganda and lies," he wrote. Once again, the UN has rolled out the red carpet for one of the most antisemitic figures in modern history, granting her a stage to spew baseless propaganda and lies. Not a word was said about the 101 hostages still suffering at the hands of Hamas. No mention of Hamas or… pic.twitter.com/f3oiUUvoyA — Danny Danon 🇮🇱 דני דנון (@dannydanon) October 30, 2024 × Slamming Albanese directly, he added, "Your presence at the UN is a disgrace, a betrayal of all moral standards. Resign immediately. Leave your credentials at the door and join your friends at Hamas and Hezbollah, where you belong." Albanese defends herself Albanese, who has faced accusations of bias from Israel and its allies for years, defended her comments in a press briefing on Wednesday, asserting that her focus was on protecting Palestinian rights and was not directed at Judaism or Israel’s right to exist. "I really don't feel comfortable at entertaining any longer discussions concerning the attacks against me, because it's not about me, and I'm not the story," she said. Stressing her impartial mandate, she stated: "The story is the fact that there are Palestinians who risk to be erased from their land." Also read | IDF says its Lebanon operations have achieved key goals, diplomacy now possible: Report Albanese then called Israel's ally, the United States, an "enabler in what Israel has been doing." Reacting to the statement, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield labelled Albanese "unfit" for the UN position and said: "The United Nations should not tolerate anti-Semitism from a UN-affiliated official hired to promote human rights". Israel's UN mission in Geneva joined the criticism, saying Albanese's "distorted reality" reflects a personal bias, accusing her of being a "political activist who abuses an already discriminatory UN mandate". "According to her hate-filled paradigm, the state of Israel has no historic reason to exist, no right to defend its population, and both the attack of October 7 and the rescue of hostages are merely used by Israel as an excuse." "This distorted reality is a smokescreen to hide her hatred for Israel," it said. "As a UN mandate holder, she has breached every possible rule of the UN code of conduct. She must immediately be held accountable for her continuous abuses," it added. Why is Albanese under attack? Albanese in her latest report, released on Tuesday (Oct 29) claimed that Israel's policies toward Palestinians constitute genocide aimed at displacement. "The genocide of the Palestinians appears to be the means to an end: the complete removal or eradication of Palestinians from the land so integral to their identity, and which is illegally and openly coveted by Israel." "Since its establishment, Israel has treated the occupied people as a hated encumbrance and threat to be eradicated, subjecting millions of Palestinians, for generations, to everyday indignities, mass killing, mass incarceration, forced displacement, racial segregation and apartheid," she wrote. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel demands UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese's resignation over 'genocidal campaign' claims

10th May 2021 saw the first rockets fired from Gaza towards Israel. On the first anniversary of the Hamas-Israel conflict, which lasted for 11 days, WION correspondent Jodie Cohen, spoke exclusively with Ambassador Danny Danon, about the way forward towards peace in a fraught region.

Danon is Israel’s former Ambassador to the UN, and current Chairman of World Likud.

Likud is, of course, Israel’s largest political party, which leads the Opposition and is headed by former Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Here are the excerpts - 

WION: Ambassador Danon, thank you for speaking with WION… On the first anniversary of rockets fired from Gaza, this year we’ve again seen unrest on the Temple Mount / Al Aqsa compound…what do you think is the short-term solution to preventing further violence?

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Danny Danon: Thank you for having me today. I think what we have seen today is the continuation of incitement. Incitement on a holiday that is Ramadan – a Muslim holiday – to incite against the Jews and unfortunately, we see a wave of terror attacks here in Israel targeting the civilians, using the Temple Mount as a reason. Israel is a peaceful country and Jerusalem is the peaceful capital of Israel with total freedom of religion. The answer to that is to stop the incitement, to demand the local leadership not to allow those incitements to be all over the social media and not to allow those radical leaders to take advantage of a holiday. &nbsp;&nbsp;

WION: What’s the long-term solution for Israelis and Palestinians to be able to live side by side in peace?

Danny Danon: I think eventually we will have to negotiate and unfortunately, we do not see any viable partner. Only recently, we have signed the Abraham Accords with a few Arab countries and we are very proud of that and the peace agreements we already have with Jordan and Egypt. So, we are capable of compromising and signing peace agreements, but we need a partner for that. I think President (Mahmoud) Abbas is not a partner, He is not willing to negotiate with Israel or to stop the incitement or stop paying the salaries of convicted terrorists. So, we will have to wait for a new leader to emerge who will be ready to sit down, negotiate and achieve peace. &nbsp;

WION: You’re currently Chairman of World Likud…can Likud form another government under former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/despite-sanctions-russian-ruble-is-the-worlds-top-performing-currency-in-2022-478370">Despite sanctions, Russian ruble is world's top performing currency in 2022</a>

Danny Danon: I absolutely think we can. But we need to bring a lot of people out to vote. Last time, a lot of people on our side were disappointed and they did not come out to vote. To win the next elections, we need to mobilise and inspire them to be active and to come out to vote.

WION: Your book, ‘In the Lion’s Den’, sets out a roadmap for Israel’s future on the regional and global stage. Where does the roadmap lead?

Danny Danon: In the book, I spoke about the five years I spend at the UN (United Nations). I describe not only what I achieved – the success and disappointments – but also a vision for Israel. I am optimistic that we have a great future in the region. We have a lot of allies and we will hopefully sign peace treaties with other countries in the region. I think that will be the answer to the radical ideas that are being spread by Iran in the region.

WION: Is your book your manifesto for becoming a future Likud leader, or even a leader of a new party?

Danny Danon: I am a proud member of the Likud party. I am chairman of the World Likud and I intend to stay active in my party. I ran in the past for the position of chairman in the party and definitely I intend to come back to public life in the future using the skills and connections I acquired at the UN for the benefit of the people of the country I love so much. &nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-exclusive-we-should-not-allow-radical-leaders-to-promote-hate-says-danny-danon-478434/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

10th May 2021 saw the first rockets fired from Gaza towards Israel. On the first anniversary of the Hamas-Israel conflict, which lasted for 11 days, WION correspondent Jodie Cohen, spoke exclusively with Ambassador Danny Danon, about the way forward towards peace in a fraught region.

10th May 2021 saw the first rockets fired from Gaza towards Israel. On the first anniversary of the Hamas-Israel conflict, which lasted for 11 days, WION correspondent Jodie Cohen, spoke exclusively with Ambassador Danny Danon, about the way forward towards peace in a fraught region. Danon is Israel’s former Ambassador to the UN, and current Chairman of World Likud. Likud is, of course, Israel’s largest political party, which leads the Opposition and is headed by former Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Here are the excerpts - WION: Ambassador Danon, thank you for speaking with WION… On the first anniversary of rockets fired from Gaza, this year we’ve again seen unrest on the Temple Mount / Al Aqsa compound…what do you think is the short-term solution to preventing further violence? Also read | Sri Lanka crisis — PM Ranil Wickremesinghe pledges to uplift the economy Danny Danon: Thank you for having me today. I think what we have seen today is the continuation of incitement. Incitement on a holiday that is Ramadan – a Muslim holiday – to incite against the Jews and unfortunately, we see a wave of terror attacks here in Israel targeting the civilians, using the Temple Mount as a reason. Israel is a peaceful country and Jerusalem is the peaceful capital of Israel with total freedom of religion. The answer to that is to stop the incitement, to demand the local leadership not to allow those incitements to be all over the social media and not to allow those radical leaders to take advantage of a holiday. WION: What’s the long-term solution for Israelis and Palestinians to be able to live side by side in peace? Danny Danon: I think eventually we will have to negotiate and unfortunately, we do not see any viable partner. Only recently, we have signed the Abraham Accords with a few Arab countries and we are very proud of that and the peace agreements we already have with Jordan and Egypt. So, we are capable of compromising and signing peace agreements, but we need a partner for that. I think President (Mahmoud) Abbas is not a partner, He is not willing to negotiate with Israel or to stop the incitement or stop paying the salaries of convicted terrorists. So, we will have to wait for a new leader to emerge who will be ready to sit down, negotiate and achieve peace. WION: You’re currently Chairman of World Likud…can Likud form another government under former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? Also read | Despite sanctions, Russian ruble is world's top performing currency in 2022 Danny Danon: I absolutely think we can. But we need to bring a lot of people out to vote. Last time, a lot of people on our side were disappointed and they did not come out to vote. To win the next elections, we need to mobilise and inspire them to be active and to come out to vote. WION: Your book, ‘In the Lion’s Den’, sets out a roadmap for Israel’s future on the regional and global stage. Where does the roadmap lead? Danny Danon: In the book, I spoke about the five years I spend at the UN (United Nations). I describe not only what I achieved – the success and disappointments – but also a vision for Israel. I am optimistic that we have a great future in the region. We have a lot of allies and we will hopefully sign peace treaties with other countries in the region. I think that will be the answer to the radical ideas that are being spread by Iran in the region. WION: Is your book your manifesto for becoming a future Likud leader, or even a leader of a new party? Danny Danon: I am a proud member of the Likud party. I am chairman of the World Likud and I intend to stay active in my party. I ran in the past for the position of chairman in the party and definitely I intend to come back to public life in the future using the skills and connections I acquired at the UN for the benefit of the people of the country I love so much.

Exclusive | We should not allow radical leaders to promote hate, says former Israeli ambassador

On the May 10 of last year, the first rockets from Gaza were fired towards Israel which lasted 11 days. WION's Jodie Cohen spoke exclusively to ambassador Danny Danon about the way forward and the way forward towards peace in a fraught region.

WION Exclusive: 'We should not allow radical leaders to promote hate', says Danny Danon

WION Exclusive: 'Hope to sign a peace deal with the Palestinians', says Danny Danon

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Why can Israel have nukes? UN Reporter presses Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon on double standards

Israel demands UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese's resignation over 'genocidal campaign' claims

Exclusive | We should not allow radical leaders to promote hate, says former Israeli ambassador

WION Exclusive: 'We should not allow radical leaders to promote hate', says Danny Danon

WION Exclusive: 'Hope to sign a peace deal with the Palestinians', says Danny Danon