Israel’s Domestic Politics Fought at Turtle Bay

Israeli domestic politics were visible in Turtle Bay on Wednesday when the American deputy UN representative lauded Israeli NGOs on the political left after B’tselem’s director provided testimony at a special Security Council session called to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian track of Middle Easter conflicts. The organizations’ presence at the session rankled Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon, who noted that three agencies of the United Nations have funded Israeli organizations on the political left whose agendas run counter to policies of the government. Danon called it “a direct interference in [Israel’s] democratic political process by anti-Israel elements here at the UN.” The session was called by the Palestinians to discuss Israeli policies of building in areas it conquered in the 1967 war but which the Palestinians claim for their future state. Much of the international community backs the Palestinian insistence that Israel abandon all post-1967 land with the exception of certain land swaps to be worked out in a final agreement. The exchange at the UN comes while back home, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is engaged in a battle to punish B’tselem for speaking against his government at the United Nations. While Danon addressed his remarks to the UN, it was clear that he was also referring to the United States.