Israeli Ambassador Clashes With UN Official Over Sexual Violence Blacklist

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon clashed sharply with Vanessa Frazier, the U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, during a heated confrontation over her involvement in a report that placed Israel on a sexual violence blacklist.

The confrontation unfolded Friday at a U.N. event marking the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, where the two spoke over one another after a report Frazier helped prepare included Israel on the list.

“You caved to the pressure. You caved to the Secretary General’s obsession with targeting Israel. And in doing so,” Danon said, before Frazier interrupted.

“Wait, I’m speaking now!” Danon shouted in response.

“No, you will be quiet, because I’m speaking now! You spoke, now I speak. You spoke, and now I’ll speak. Shame on you, you’re part of the bullying of Israel. Shame on you, you can walk out. You spoke now, I speak. You can walk out, shame on you! You’re part of this, you’re part of his obsession,” he continued.

In May, the office of the U.N. Secretary-General included Israeli entities in the annex of the organization’s annual Conflict-Related Sexual Violence report. The document named the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Prison Service and the country’s border police Counter Terrorism Unit after Secretary-General António Guterres described the organizations as “a party credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other sexual violence.”

Danon had already denounced the U.N.’s move to place Israel on the blacklist and said Israel would freeze relations with Guterres’ office in response.

In a statement to Fox News, Danon’s office blasted the decision as a “stain” and noted that Israel was being placed on a list with terrorist organizations.

“Israel has been placed on a blacklist alongside Hamas, ISIS, and Boko Haram. This is a moral disgrace that will be remembered as one of the darkest stains on António Guterres’ legacy,” he said.

On Friday, Danon also called for U.N. Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Pramila Patten to resign. He then rebuffed an apparent attempt by Frazier to defend Patten, noting that Patten was not present at the meeting.

“Ms. Patten was invited here, she chose not to be here. You will allow me to finish my words. Shameful. You are part of this shameful behavior. You are a part of it. Shame on you. Shame on you,” Danon shouted.

“I will speak and you will be quiet. You work for the U.N. and you will respect the rule of the U.N. Respect the rule. We will not allow you to bully us. We are a member state, and you work for the U.N., and you will be quiet now. You will be quiet. Shameful. You and your shameful report. We know why you took this position. We will not let you be part of this shameful campaign. I will finish my words. If you don’t want to listen, go out,” Danon continued.

Danon contended that Israel cooperated with the U.N. and that the organization did not independently review the evidence or give Israel a fair opportunity to address the allegations. He also accused Patten of lending credibility to a politically motivated campaign against Israel.

“If verifying the facts is not Ms. Patten’s responsibility, then what exactly is her responsibility?” Danon asked.

“You knew Israel had cooperated. You knew you had not reviewed the evidence yourself. Yet you chose to stand behind this falsehood. You should have said no. You should have resigned. You tried to stain Israel’s name. But the stain is not on Israel. The stain is on you,” he said during the U.N. meeting.

Danon’s office also plans on filing a formal complaint with the U.N. over Frazier’s interruptions during the meeting, his office told News Agency.

News Agency contacted a spokesperson for Patten and for Frazier but did not immediately receive a response.