Danon presents replica of 1st-century coin at UN, stressing ancient Jewish ties to Jerusalem

Ambassador Danny Danon presented the UN Security Council with a replica of an ancient coin, demonstrating the Jewish People’s centuries-old ties with Jerusalem and stressing that any peace deal with the Palestinians must be predicated on accepting the city as the capital of Israel.

By: Jack Ben-David, World Israel News

Addressing a special session of the UN Security Council on Friday, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon thanked US President Donald Trump for his “courageous decision” to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, urging other countries to follow suit.

Expressing Israel’s gratitude to Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley and Vice President Mike Pence for defending Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, Danon presented to the special session, which convened to discuss Trump’s declaration, a replica of a coin dating back to the first century that was discovered at the Temple Mount.

“I have here a replica of an ancient coin found on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It is dated from the year 67 AD during the time of the second Jewish Temple,” Danon told the Security Council.

“The words ‘Jerusalem the Holy’ are written on it.  Only three years later, in the year 70 AD, would our holy temple be destroyed and the Jewish people sent into exile for 2,000 years.”

Elaborating on the historic connection between the Jewish People and Jerusalem, Danon said that for centuries, Jewish prayers have highlighted the dream of “Next Year in Jerusalem.” Israel’s Declaration of Independence in 1948 was the realization of this vision, he said.

“Seventy years ago, the Jewish people came home to Jerusalem,” Danon declared. “All the nations of the world (should) join us this year in Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel.”

‘Reality check for the Palestinians’

Moreover, the decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital will help the peace process, not destroy it, Danon explained, pointing to the lack of progress and failed policies over the last 20 years.

“This announcement should serve as a reality check for the Palestinians,” he stated.

Following Trump’s announcement, Hamas called for “three days of rage,” which led to violence and clashes with Israeli security forces throughout Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and on the Gaza border.

In addition, numerous Arab and world leaders warned the US, both before and after Trump’s speech, that his declaration would only agitate the Arab street and fan the flames of radicalism.

“They can choose violence as they have always done, or they can choose to join us at the negotiating table. The Security Council must send a clear message that there is never an excuse for violence. Violence must never be used as a threat,” Danon affirmed.

“The nations of the world must understand, that there will never be peace without Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel,” he declared unequivocally, adding that other countries should therefore expedite the process of recognizing this fact and emulate Trump’s decision to move their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

“That is why, today, I call on all countries to join with our American friends, recognize Jerusalem as our capital and move their embassies as well,” he concluded.