Israel’s champion at United Nations Nikki Haley announces shock resignation
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley quit unexpectedly on Tuesday after two years in which she championed Israel at the world forum.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley resigned unexpectedly on Tuesday, after two years in which she championed Israel at the world forum.
Haley oversaw the US embassy move to Jerusalem, the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, the US withdrawal from UN human rights bodies critical of Israel, as well as US funding for Palestinian authorities and refugee programmes, regularly lambasting Israel’s critics from her position on the Security Council.
News of her resignation came as a shock to world leaders who had grown used to her combative style, which she used to threaten those countries who voted against the US on the embassy move.
She became known for her less-than-diplomatic words, describing the UN Human Rights Council as “a cesspool of political bias” and “a protector of human rights abusers” that targets Israel while ignoring atrocities elsewhere.
As one of Donald Trump’s most trusted lieutenants, Haley has tried to distance her boss from the Obama administration, which did not veto anti-settlement resolutions at the UN in the days before Obama left office, triggering bitter criticism from Israel.
Haley won rapturous applause at the annual conference of US-Israel lobby group AIPAC when she said the resolution “showed the United States at its weakest ever,” vowing that Trump would never fail to defend Israel.
After the UN overwhelmingly condemned the US embassy move to Jerusalem, Haley reacted furiously, calling it an “insult” and swearing that it would not be forgotten.
This garnered praise from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said she had had “lit a candle of truth” and “dispelled the darkness,” adding: “On Chanukah, you spoke like a Maccabi.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
