In closed information to UN accredited journalists, Israel’s permanent representative, ambassador Danny Danonhe presented an extensive assessment of Israel’s positions on the war in Gaza, the debate in the UN corridors and the wider regional and international developments.

Algeria’s attitude

Mr Danon began criticizing Algeria’s attitude. “They refused to include any wording condemning Hamas, the hostage of October 7, or calling for the removal of Hamas.”

Israel’s vision for Gaza

Referring to the future of Gaza, Mr Danon outlined Israel’s strategy. “Our vision is clear. We will keep security control. We cannot allow al-Qaeda or Hamas to take the Gaza again, “he said.

He stressed that Israel is not seeking permanent possession. “We don’t want to stay in Gaza. When Hamas is defeated, we are waiting for an international authority to oversee the governance, allow rebuilding and creating a new leadership framework, as in Japan and Germany after World War II. “

The duration of the war

Recognizing the burden of the conflict, Mr Danon warned that Israel was preparing for a long campaign. “This will be a long war. We do not want him, but if there is no ceasefire, we will move towards Gaza, which remains Hamas’ main stronghold. “

Relations with the United States

Regarding the US-Israel relations, he noted that “we were not happy with the statement of a blow to Doha, though he did not mention Israel. Everyone knew what it was about. But I think overall the level of cooperation with the US is so high that it didn’t affect us, ”he said.

He added that “even by fighting Hamas, we continue the talks. We believe that the pressure we are now exerting will bring Hamas back to the table. “

Iran’s threat

Mr Danon has made Iran as a central issue. “First of all, I think about the ‘snapback mechanism’ is the right decision. And I would like to thank the pioneers for the initiative. They should not play the game I see other countries make, save time or delay. We have to move in the right direction. “

Mr Danon also said that Iran would be one of the issues of discussion between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump.

“I don’t think we can talk about a new attack now. But if in the future Iran returns where it was, with ballistic missiles and nuclear capabilities, then both Israel and the US will have to make a decision. During the war we were able to limit them. Were remarkable achievements. This does not mean that they will not come back in a few years. But I think no one is discussing it right now, because we have delayed them significantly. It will take years to rebuild these capabilities. But if we see that they continue in the same direction, then we need to reassess it, ”he said.

Relations with Europe

Regarding Europe, and especially Germany, he expressed frustration with contradictory messages.

“We deeply appreciate the bond of Israel-Germany, but it is frustrating to hear voices that support the” armed struggle “against Israel. We just celebrated 60 years of relationships. For Germany, for many years, the issue of Israel’s security was a vital element of the relationship. But today, when you hear voices talking about an “armed struggle” against Israel, even partially, my view is frustrating. “

The Palestinian state

On the issue of Palestinian state, Mr Danon was clear. “When we have negotiations, we always discuss the main issues with the Palestinians, which are borders, refugees, Jerusalem and the state,” he said.

Mr Danon pointed out that what some countries are now trying to do is to bypass direct negotiations and essentially give the Palestinians the state status without negotiating with Israel.

“So it’s a unilateral action against us. How can you talk about two states when Hamas still controls large sections of Gaza and when the Palestinian Authority is so weak? It’s easy to say “yes, we want it”, but today, looking at the field, this is cut off from reality, “he said.

Mr Danon also stressed that the Palestinian Authority is playing a double game. “They play a double game. On the one hand they condemn terrorism, on the other they pay wages to convicted terrorists. Just a few weeks ago, six Israelis were killed in a hotel in Jerusalem and the families of Palestinian perpetrators will receive life -long monthly allowances from the Palestinian Authority, ”he said.

“We did not choose this war for us. We want it to finish, but it has to end with Hamas’ defeat. Only then can Gaza be rebuilt under a new international context and not as a stronghold of terrorism, ”he added.

Relations with Russia

Mr Danon said that “we have relations with Russia. Many Russians have migrated to Israel and are an important part of our society. We are not happy with Russia’s positions in SAE, but we continue the dialogue. “