Police to investigate allegations related to Israeli UN ambassador

The State Attorney is launching an official investigation into corruption allegations against Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon.

By: Yona Schnitzer/TPS

State Attorney Shai Nitzan has instructed the police to open an investigation into alleged corruption charges against Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon.

Last week, Israel’s Channel 2 News aired an investigative report in which it claimed that the former Likud MK has been utilizing his influence in order to create fictitious paying jobs for associates in several non-profit organizations in return for political support.

According to the report, Danon employed these tactics both during his tenure as an MK, and in his current position in anticipation of returning to a prominent role within the Likud following his stint in New York.

In response to the report, Danon denied any wrongdoing on his part. “ I have been in public service for over 20 years, and never has there been any fault in my actions, “ Danon said.

Following the report, the Movement For Quality of Government issued a statement demanding that Danon be investigated.

“It seems that the same methodology, which we have seen many times before, which sees making use of a non-profit organization in order to funnel public funds to the pockets of the associates of an elected official, has been perfected in this instance to work like a well-oiled machine. All while making cynical and wrongful use of public funds and the funds of Diaspora Jewry under a false guise of Zionist activity,” the movement’s statement read.

“A state of affairs in which tens of millions of shekels of public funds are funneled toward furthering the personal interests of an elected official should raise red flags and lead to the swift opening and conduction of an investigation,” the statement added.