Israeli Ambassador and UN Official Engage in Heated Exchange Over Sexual Violence Blacklist

During a United Nations meeting on June 20, Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon and Vanessa Frazier, the U.N. Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, had a contentious exchange regarding Israel's inclusion on a sexual violence blacklist. The meeting coincided with the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, where Danon accused Frazier of succumbing to pressure to target Israel. He expressed his discontent with the U.N.'s decision to list Israeli entities, including the Israel Defense Forces, in its annual Conflict-Related Sexual Violence report. Danon criticized the report as a 'moral disgrace' and announced plans to file a formal complaint regarding Frazier's interruptions during the meeting. He also called for the resignation of U.N. Special Representative Pramila Patten, asserting that Israel had cooperated with the U.N. and that the organization failed to independently verify the allegations against it.