US Ambassador to the UN: 'Israel will have no better friend than myself'

WASHINGTON – Kelly Craft, the recently-appointed US Ambassador to the UN, vowed on Friday to maintain support for Israel. Craft, who replaced Nikki Haley – a staunch supporter of the Jewish state, made it clear that she would act the same way. In her first appearance at the monthly Middle East debate at the UN Security Council, Craft declared: “The United States has always supported Israel in the past. The United States supports Israel today. The United States will always support Israel moving forward.”“Israel will have no better friend than Kelly Craft,” she added. Danny Danon, Israel’s envoy to the UN, thanked her. “We welcome your presence here, and look forward to your voice being heard on behalf of the American people.”Following their statements in the Security Council, Ambassadors Danon and Craft met outside the Council chamber.“The United States will have no better friend than the State of Israel,” Danon added. “Ambassador Craft made it clear today that the US remains strongly committed to Israel and our security. With her help, together, we can continue to change the culture at the United Nations.”In his speech, Danon called on the Security Council to maintain pressure on Iran: “Iran poses the greatest danger to regional stability and security. Iran must be stopped. Not with smiles and handshakes, but with economic, political, diplomatic and any other pressure, as necessary. I call on the members of this esteemed Council to act against the Iranian violations and exert more pressure on Iran.”Danon also addressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks last week regarding the future status of the Jordan Valley.“We are looking forward to hearing Jordan’s position,” said the Israeli envoy. “Nonetheless, Israel has its own position, one that guarantees defensible borders for our country. Israel cannot have defensible borders without control of the Jordan Valley.”Quoting former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, he said, “The security border of the State of Israel will be located in the Jordan Valley, in the broadest meaning of that term.”“Prime Minister Netanyahu repeated this exact phrase last week,” Danon clarified. “Defensible borders are not just required for Israel’s security but as a necessary condition for regional stability. We would never accept a situation in which Iran also conducts its terror strategy from the outskirts of Ramallah and in the Judean Hills overlooking Ben-Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv and Israel’s civilian and financial center.”“This is our firm position,” Danon added. “We understand that Jordan and others have their own stances. These differences create an opportunity for dialogue.”