11 UN envoys in Israel to learn about country’s unique challenges

Envoys to the United Nations from 11 countries are in Israel to learn first-hand about the challenges Israel faces and the precarious reality in the region.

The UN ambassadors – hailing from Liberia, Panama, the Marshall Islands, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tanzania, Serbia, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of Palau, Thailand and Uruguay – on Tuesday received a security briefing in the south and learned about the rocket and terror tunnel threats emanating from the Gaza Strip. They visited Kibbutz Nahal Oz and Sderot, which have both been heavily targeted by Hamas from Gaza.

The envoys, from four continents, then flew by helicopter to the north, where they visited Ziv hospital in Tsfat and learned about Israeli medical care administered to Syrian refugees of the civil war.

On the way, while still in the air, they became aware of Israel’s dangerously small dimensions.

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon led the delegation. He stressed the significance of the visit, which he said cultivates Israel’s diplomatic ties and builds strong bonds with the leaders of the future, who “are at the forefront of their countries’ foreign services.”

The ambassadors will “return home with a better understanding of [Israel’s] need to stand strong in the face of the threats to its security,” Danon explained, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Earlier this week, the delegation had lunch at the Max Brenner restaurant in the Sarona Market in Tel Aviv, the site of a deadly Palestinian terrorist attack in June which claimed the lives of four Israelis.

The UN ambassadors’ delegation to Israel was organized by the American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange, in coordination with the Israeli Mission to the UN.

Danon’s guests will also visit holy sites in Jerusalem and a water purifying plant in Ashkelon, and they will be introduced to Israel’s award-winning culinary scene.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

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