Trump’s U.N. envoy Nikki Haley gets hero’s welcome at World Jewish Congress
America's representative at the United Nations gets two rapturous applause as she commits to standing with Israel
America’s ambassador to the United Nations received a hero’s welcome at the World Jewish Congress plenary before saying a word – then insisted standing for the truth meant standing with israel.
Nikki Haley, who received two standing ovations from the 700-strong audience as she entered the room at the Hilton Midtown Hotel, condemned the previous administration for doing nothing to stop resolution 2334 and the wider body for singling attack israel more than Iran and North Korea combined.
But to applause she added: “I can safely say it’s a new day for Israel at the United Nations.”
She said: “The United States will no longer be silent as Israel is unfairly attacked at the United Nations. Silence is not my thing anyway, but that’s especially true when it comes to standing up for America’s friends. And we have no better friend in the Middle East than Israel. The anti-Israel bias that has existed for so long at the UN is cut from the same cloth as the BDS movement and the global rise in anti-Semitism. They all seek to delegitimize Israel.”
She insisted it wasn’t hard to counter the bias, however, pointing to Israel’s record on rights for women and minorities. “As long as I’m America’s representative at the UN, I am going to stand for human rights and I am going to stand for the truth. And that means I am going to stand for Israel,” she said.
Rather than focusing on israel, Haley insisted the security council’s “obsession” should be the threats posed by Iran. She said: “Iran is what should be taking up time. Hezbollah should be taking up monthly meetings. That should be the message of the UN and that was my message to the security countil last week.”
Haley – whose parents were from India – suggested Indian and Jewish communities shared a strong work ethic. They could both also be stubborn, she pointed out.
She told the gathering: “Antisemitism must be ended in all forms in every place on the planet.”
Such was the reception she received, WJC president Ronald Lauder joked that if Haley had been present a day earlier he may not have been elected to a third term.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN Danny Danon also addressed the plenary, pointing to his historic election to chair a UN committee and the withdrawal of an anti-israel report as success during his tenure.
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.
