Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon has stated that the world body remains relevant but is in urgent need of reform. In a recent interview he argued that the organization must return to its core values rather than continue operating in a manner he described as a circus. Danon emphasized that the UN was created for serious purposes of peace and security and has drifted too far into political performance and selective focus. His comments reflect long-standing Israeli frustration with the institution’s treatment of the Jewish state and its handling of broader global challenges.

Speaking on i24NEWS, Danon outlined the need for a stronger and more knowledgeable leadership as the organization prepares to choose its next secretary-general. He expressed mixed views of the current tenure, suggesting that initial objectivity gave way to bias and inefficiency. The ambassador said Israel is already engaging with other countries to identify a candidate capable of driving meaningful change. He stressed that reform requires someone with both expertise and the determination to confront entrenched problems inside the system.

Danon has repeatedly criticized the volume of UN attention devoted to Israel compared with other pressing threats. He has pointed to the frequent emergency meetings and resolutions focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while arguing that issues such as Iranian aggression, terrorism and attacks on shipping receive far less consistent scrutiny. In his view, the Security Council and other bodies have become skilled at holding sessions but far less effective at producing results that improve international security. Returning to the original mission, he said, means measuring success by outcomes rather than by the number of meetings held.

The ambassador has also linked reform to the fight against rising antisemitism. He recently launched an international initiative aimed at turning statements of concern into coordinated action, noting that hatred is visible on streets, campuses and even within UN forums. Danon argued that an institution founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust cannot treat antisemitism as a secondary issue. He has called for the next secretary-general to make this priority central to the organization’s work.

Despite his sharp criticism, Danon has rejected the idea of abandoning the United Nations. He maintains that absence would only allow hostile voices to dominate and that engaged diplomacy remains necessary. Israel’s approach, according to the ambassador, is to stay involved, push for structural changes and insist on fairness and professionalism. He has described diplomacy at the UN as an uphill battle that still must be fought.

Danon’s latest remarks reinforce a consistent message: the United Nations retains potential value but will lose legitimacy if it continues on its present path. By calling for a return to core values and an end to what he sees as political theater, the Israeli envoy is pressing for an institution that focuses on genuine threats to peace rather than recurring symbolic confrontations. Whether other member states share the urgency of that diagnosis will shape the coming debate over the organization’s future leadership and direction.