THE ANNOUNCEMENT last week that , who served as Israel’s permanent representative to the United Nations from 2015-2020, will be returning to that post, was hardly surprising. Ever since it was known that Gilad Erdan, who has done a remarkably good job at the UN, will be returning home in the summer, Danon’s name has been bandied about as the most likely person to take up where Erdan leaves off. Erdan might have stayed in the US for an extended term, but for the tunnel vision of the accountant-general.
He had been asked to go to Washington to take over from Israel’s ambassador Michael Herzog, who will also be returning home in the summer. Erdan was willing, but wanted the government to provide a home for his children, who are studying in a Jewish day school in New York. The accountant-general refused the request.
There could have been a compromise solution in which Erdan would fill both positions as he did when he initially went to the US or a wing in the apartment of the new representative to the UN could have been allocated to Erdan’s family. But Israel is ill-disposed to compromise, though this time, the choice of Danon will make things much easier in terms of knowledge and adjustment. Danon knows the ropes, and several of the permanent representatives of other countries who were there during his term are still there, and he has maintained some of the relationships that he formed.
As for Erdan, he will keep up the good fight for Israel till his last day at the UN an.
