Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a staged walkout during his United Nations General Assembly address, where several countries brought extra staff into the chamber to exaggerate their exit, making it appear that many delegations left. However, according to Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, over 100 delegations remained seated and engaged in private discussions with Netanyahu, who met with seven heads of state during his visit. Danon emphasized that meaningful diplomacy happens through ongoing dialogue and collaboration rather than public walkouts, highlighting Israel's active participation in various initiatives within the U.N. framework.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
The walkout was designed to make Israel look isolated.
asserted
Israel → design → ?
As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly, diplomats rose from their seats and headed for the exits.
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diplomats → address → exits
The intended image was unmistakable: Israel was made to appear as though it stood alone, rejected by the world.
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it → intend → world
We should not accept that image at face value.
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We → accept → value
A dramatic walkout makes compelling footage.
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walkout → make → footage
It does not measure the strength of Israel’s relationships, the number of countries willing to engage privately, or the diplomatic work continuing after the cameras move on.
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cameras → measure → countries
Speaking with me following Netanyahu’s address, Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, offered a very different account of what happened inside the General Assembly.
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what → speak → Assembly
“We counted the numbers, and more than 100 delegations stayed in the room,” Danon told me.
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Danon → count → me
He described the walkout as staged by countries that brought additional staff members into the chamber so their eventual exit would appear larger.
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exit → describe → chamber
“They had six or seven people sitting in the room in order for them to leave,” Danon said, pointing to delegations including Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria.
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Danon → have → Libya
“When they walk out, it will look like a lot of people are walking out.”
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lot → walk → people
The walkout should therefore be understood for what it was: political theater designed to manufacture an image of Israeli isolation.
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it → understand → isolation
The more meaningful story unfolded outside that frame.
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story → unfold → frame
Netanyahu met with seven heads of state during an effective diplomatic week, according to Danon.
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Netanyahu → meet → Danon
Israel’s representatives also held quiet conversations with key stakeholders about regional challenges and possible next steps.
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representatives → hold → challenges
“We were able to learn and also to send messages regarding the next steps,” Danon said.
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Danon → learn → steps
That is the diplomacy I believe deserves far more attention.
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I → believe → attention
International relationships are built through repeated conversations, shared initiatives, and officials willing to remain engaged when public pressure rewards distance.
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pressure → build → distance
Danon understands this.
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Danon → understand → this
His approach is not to withdraw from an institution that often treats Israel unfairly.
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that → withdraw → Israel
It is to make Israel impossible to exclude from its work.
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Israel → make → work
“We go to many events, we collaborate, we participate in many initiatives, multilateral initiatives, and we are a very active member state in the halls of the U.N.,” he said.
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he → go → U.N.
“That’s my approach, to be everywhere, take part in many events.
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That → ’ → events
That is exactly the posture Israel needs.
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Israel → need → ?
Israel cannot allow its critics to become the only people shaping international opinion.
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critics → allow → opinion
It must enter every room available to it, confront false narratives, and build relationships long before a crisis forces countries to choose where they stand.
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they → enter → countries
Danon’s work beyond the cameras matters because partnerships shape perception.
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partnerships → matter → perception
A country that knows Israel only through condemnatory resolutions will view it differently from one whose diplomats have collaborated with Israeli representatives, heard their concerns directly, and developed trust over time.
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diplomats → know → time
Danon rejected the claim that Israel has been left without friends.
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Israel → reject → friends
“I beg to differ with that, because we have a lot of friends,” he said.
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he → beg → friends
He pointed to what he described as encouraging support across Latin America, with Brazil as the notable exception.
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he → point → exception
He also expressed optimism about Venezuela following a positive meeting with its ambassador to the United Nations.
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He → express → Nations
“I think we can continue to do that,” Danon said.
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Danon → think → that
The comment may sound modest, yet it reflects how diplomacy often works.
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diplomacy → sound → ?
Progress does not always begin with a grand announcement.
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Progress → begin → announcement
It can begin with one meeting, one channel of communication, or a willingness to speak with a representative others might have written off.
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others → begin → representative
Danon deserves credit for pursuing those openings rather than allowing hostility to dictate the limits of Israel’s engagement.
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hostility → deserve → engagement
Israel undoubtedly faces serious diplomatic challenges.
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Israel → face → challenges
Organized campaigns seek to delegitimize it.
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campaigns → seek → it
Some governments find it easier to condemn Israel than confront far more destructive forces.
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it → find → forces
…and 16 more, not listed.
The Aporia
