Danny Danon Explained

Danny Danon
Native Name Lang:he
Office1:Ministerial roles
Suboffice1:Minister of Science, Technology & Space
Subterm1:2015
Office2:Faction represented in the Knesset
Suboffice2:Likud
Subterm2:2009–2015
Subterm3:2022–2024
Office4:Diplomatic roles
Suboffice4:Permanent Representative to the UN
Subterm4:2015–2020
Birth Date:8 May 1971
Birth Place:Ramat Gan, Israel
Alma Mater:Florida International University (BA)
Hebrew University of Jerusalem (MA)
Nationality:Israeli
Suboffice3:Likud

Danny Danon (Hebrew: דני דנון, born 8 May 1971[1]) is an Israeli politician and former diplomat. A member of the Likud party, Danon served in the Knesset from 2009 to 2015, and re-entered the Knesset in 2022. From 2015 to 2020, Danon served as Israel's 17th Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The former leader of the world Betar organization, Danon was elected Chairman of the World Likud.[2] Considered a 'right-wing thorn in Netanyahu's side,"[3] Danon challenged Benjamin Netanyahu for the party's leadership in 2007 and 2014. Danon was appointed again as Permanent Representative to the United Nations in 2024, replacing Gilad Erdan.[4]

First elected to the Knesset in the 2009 election, Danon served as Deputy Minister of Defense, which coincided with the outbreak of the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict. He was ultimately fired by Netanyahu for criticizing the Prime Minister's willingness to accept a proposed ceasefire. In 2015, Danon was appointed to serve as Minister of Science, Technology and Space.[5]

Danon became Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in 2015, and made history in 2016 by being the first Israeli elected chair of the UN's Legal Committee.[6] In his capacity, Danon supported the United States' recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel in 2017, and criticized supporters of UN General Assembly Resolution ES-10/19 as "puppets pulled by the strings of the Palestinian puppet masters."[7] [8] Danon left the position in 2020, and was replaced by Gilad Erdan.[9]

Following his tenure at the UN, Danon re-entered Israeli politics, and was elected to the Knesset in the 2022 election. In a 2021 interview, Danon indicated that he would be interested in pursuing leadership of the Likud party in the future.

Early life and education

Danon was born in Ramat Gan to Yehuda and Yoheved Danon. His father was born in Egypt, and moved to Israel in 1950. He was severely wounded in the Jordan Valley during the War of Attrition, and died when Danny was 13. Danon attended Blich High School and was a member of the Betar youth movement.

In 1989, he was drafted into the army and completed his officer's course with distinction. He served as an officer in the Education Corps and was released with the rank of captain. In his final military posting, he served as an officer in the Marava unit, a military program for Jews from around the world to strengthen ties to Israel.

He earned a bachelor's degree in international affairs from the Florida International University, and a master's degree in public policy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. After his national service in the IDF between 1989 and 1993, Danon was sent to Miami by the Jewish Agency.[10]

Early political career

Danon's time as an emissary for the Jewish Agency had a big impact on his life; it was the first stepping stone in his choice to enter public service. Upon his return to Israel, Danon served as an adviser to the Chair of the Knesset Foreign affairs and Defense Committee, MK Uzi Landau.

When he was 28 years old, Danon was elected Chair of the World Betar Movement. His responsibilities included managing the administrative, financial, and educational aspects of the organization in Israel and abroad, and encouraging aliyah.

From 2004 to 2009, Danon served as the chairman of the Likud faction in the World Zionist Organization. His responsibilities included encouraging aliyah to Israel and combating antisemitism. Danon also served on the board of directors of the Jewish Agency, establishing policy, goals and monitoring the work of the Agency.

In the run-up to the 2006 legislative election, Danon was the 23rd spot on Likud's list in the party primaries. However, the party won only 12 seats in the general election, and Danon did not enter the Knesset.

In June 2006, Danon was elected chairman of the World Likud organization, defeating Yuval Steinitz MK for the position. During this period, Danon was active against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan during the referendum conducted by the latter in the Likud party's central committee.

2007 leadership campaign and aftermath

See main article: 2007 Likud leadership election. In July 2007, Danon, described as one of Benjamin Netanyahu's biggest critics from within the Likud, declared his candidacy for the party's leadership.[11] He eventually finished third in a primary election held that August.[12]

In 2008, Danon filed a petition to the Israeli High Court of Justice to rescind the citizenship of former MK Azmi Bishara, who fled Israel after he was suspected of aiding Hezbollah, an enemy organization of Israel, during the 2006 Lebanon War. The petition was rejected.

First tenure in the Knesset (2009–2015)

18th Knesset

On December 8, 2008, Danon was elected to the twenty-fourth place on the Likud slate for the upcoming election. In the 2009 election election, the Likud party won twenty-seven seats, and Danon was sworn in as a Member of the Knesset.

During this term, MK Danon served as Deputy Speaker of the Knesset,[13] Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and Chair of the Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs. These positions presented Danon with the opportunities to promote legislation in a variety of fields. In addition to the committees that he chaired, Danon was also a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, the Finance Committee, the Education, Culture and Sports Committee, the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and the Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality.

Legislation that Danon promoted included laws granting widows (including those who remarried) of fallen Israeli security personnel and terror attack victims the rights to receive grants from the government.[14] He also promoted a law in which ensured that pardoned convicts who committed a crime during their parole period would automatically be re-imprisoned.[15] In addition, Danon passed a law that limited the promotion and advertisement of alcoholic beverages,[16] and a law that set minimum weight requirements for the modeling industry and required advertisers to disclose whether Photoshop was used in their ads.[17]

In an August 2011 interview with Teymoor Nabili on Al Jazeera English, Danon said "There is place only for one state on the land of Israel.... I do not believe in a two-state solution."[18]

Member of the 19th Knesset – Deputy Minister of Defense

Danon was chosen for the fifth placement on the Likud list for the 2013 Israeli legislative election, which determined the composition of the 19th Knesset. He was reelected and went on to be appointed Deputy Minister of Defense.

During his term, Danon focused on increasing enlistment to the IDF from the Christian, and the Ultra-Orthodox and Ethiopian Jewish communities, bettering the service conditions of reservists, establishing criteria for financial benefits for the security forces, and decreasing the number of military drop-outs. In June 2013, Danon was elected Chair of the Likud Party Central Committee, with 85% of the votes.

Removal as Deputy Minister and 2014 leadership election

See main article: 2014 Likud leadership election. On July 15, 2014, Danon was dismissed as Deputy Minister of Defense position by Prime Minister Netanyahu after publicly criticizing his conduct and his willingness to accept a truce with Hamas during Operation Protective Edge.[19]

Danon submitted his candidacy for the 2014 Likud leadership election on 8 December 2014.[20] Upon announcing his leadership candidacy, Danon stated that "In the past few years, the Likud movement has gone astray."[21] Danon was the only candidate to run against Netanyahu in the election, and received 19% of the vote versus the incumbent.

Member of the 20th Knesset – Minister of Science, Technology and Space

In December 2014, Danon placed 9th in the Likud's internal primary for the 2015 legislative election. After Likud won the 2015 election, Danon was appointed Minister of Science, Technology and Space in Netanyahu's new government.[22]

One of the first decisions Danon made after his appointment as Minister of Science, Technology and Space, was to designate the upcoming year as the year of Pioneering Women in Science and Technology. Danon also led efforts to increase awareness for science, technology and space among the residents of developing cities in Israel, by increasing the number of science-focused summer camps. Danon led negotiations with the Ministry of Finance and succeeded in increasing his Ministry's budget by 20%.

During his time in office, Danon dealt with strengthening ties and cooperation between countries and companies around the world. In June 2015, he signed a cooperation agreement with Lockheed Martin on promoting science, technology and space among children. He also visited the Sesame Particle Accelerator in Jordan, which Israel is participating in, to broaden the cooperation between the two states.

Danon served in this position until August 27, 2015, when Prime Minister Netanyahu appointed him as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN.[23]

Legislative accomplishments

During his tenure in the Knesset, Danon initiated the enactment of the following laws:

Permanent Representative to the UN

On 14 August 2015, Danon was appointed by Netanyahu to be Israel's envoy to the UN, replacing Ron Prosor.[29] He stepped down as a Knesset member and minister later in the month. Danny Danon became Israel's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in October 2015.[30] At that time a wave of terrorist attack struck Israel, and the situation in Israel made its way to UN discussions.[31] Danon's first speech took place at the Security Council's meeting on the Situation in the Middle East. The Palestinian representative to the UN, Riyad Mansour, interrupted Danon's speech, violating protocol. In a Security Council meeting on the same issue in April 2015, Danon accused the Palestinian representative for failing to condemn terror.[32]

Ambassador Danon has visited Israel with the Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon,[33] where they visited Israelis wounded in the recent wave of terror attacks, and met with the wife of late Richard Lakin, who was brutally stabbed in a terror attack in the capital's Armon Hanatziv neighborhood. Danon visited Israel again with US Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, where they toured Israel by helicopter and were briefed on the security challenges Israel faces.[34] During Danon's term as Permanent Representative, the Israeli Mission marked several notable achievements including: Recognition of Yom Kippur as an Official UN holiday,[35] Acceptance to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS),[36] ZAKA and Access Israel, both Israeli NGOs, received consultative status at the UN,[37] [38] an Israeli UN resolution on Agricultural Technologies for Sustainable Development was adopted by the UN General Assembly,[39] US Secretary of State John Kerry attended an event marking 40 years since Chaim Herzog’s historic UN speech,[40] Israel held the first ever international summit at the UN against BDS,[41] and Ambassador Danon became the first ever Israeli representative to chair a main UN committee.[42] The Israeli Mission also held an event in remembrance of the Jews that were persecuted in Arab countries.

His time as envoy to the UN is also characterized by a strong push against the UN’s historically negative treatment of Israel. After 8 months elapsed in which the UN refused to condemn the wave of terror in Israel, including a statement by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that it is “Human Nature to react to occupation,[43] ” On June 9, both the Secretary General[44] and the Security Council[45] condemned terror in Israel for the first time following the Attack in the Sarona Market in Tel Aviv. In addition, the Israeli Mission partnered with "Stand With Us" to display an exhibit about Israel, which was partially censored for its panels about Jerusalem and Zionism, was later displayed fully following pressure and diplomatic efforts by Ambassador Danon.

In 2016, Danon led a delegation of 14 ambassadors from the UN to Israel. Days later, the Security Council adopted resolution 2334, which noted that Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including in Jerusalem, are a violation of international law and an obstacle to peace. Despite Israel anticipating the Obama administration to use its veto, the resolution passed. In June 2016, Danon was elected as chairman of the U.N. Legal Committee, making him the first Israeli chosen to head a permanent committee of the U.N.[46] [47]

On May 31, 2017, Danon was elected as Vice President of the General Assembly as the representative of the Western European and Others (WEOG) group.[48]

Danon strongly condemned the UN’s repeated denunciations of Israel at the UN.[49] A noteworthy instance is in his speech in response to UN Resolution 2334 which denounced Israeli construction in Jerusalem. Danon likewise delivered a speech to the UN General Assembly in December 2017 in response to criticism of a decision by the US to move its embassy to Jerusalem.[50]

Danon slammed supporters of General Assembly Resolution ES-10/19, which declared the status of Jerusalem as Israel's capital "null and void." In a speech, he referred to supporters of the resolution as "puppets pulled by the strings of the Palestinian puppet masters," comparing them to "marionettes forced to dance while the Palestinian leadership looks on with glee."[51]

Second tenure in the Knesset (2022–present)

On 29 June 2022, ahead of an upcoming legislative election, Danon announced his intention to run for a spot on the Likud's electoral list,[52] and won the 15th spot in a party primary held that August.[53] He unsuccessfully stood for the position of Speaker of the Knesset.[54]

Described as a "Likud heavyweight" by The Jerusalem Post, he indicated in a 2021 interview that he would be interested in pursuing leadership of Likud in the future.[55] As a member of the Knesset, Danon called for the "sever[ing] of all ties" with UN Secretary General António Guterres.[56]

In a November 9, 2023 post on X, Danon announced that Israel's internal security agency would add photojournalists who recorded the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel to a list of targets for elimination.[57] On 29 July 2024, Danon was chosen to succeed Gilad Erdan as Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations.[58] He subsequently resigned from the Knesset.[59]

Political views

West Bank

In 2013, Danon asserted that the Likud party has no place for anyone supporting a peace agreement with the Palestinians. He is opposed to a two-state solution. He argues for extending Israeli sovereignty over the majority of the West Bank.[60] [61]

Two years prior, in May 2011, Danon advocated that Israel annex all West Bank settlements and "uninhabited areas." He concluded that Israel would bear no responsibility to Palestinians in the West Bank, who would live in their own "unannexed" towns and that this solution would avert the "threat to the Jewish and democratic status of Israel by a growing Palestinian population."[62]

Gaza Strip

Danon has advocated for punitive attacks against Palestinian civilians and infrastructure, including a suggestion that Israel "delete" one neighborhood in Gaza in response for every rocket launched by Hamas.[63]

In July 2014, Danon advocated cutting off all electricity and fuel supplies to Gaza to induce Hamas to request a cease-fire.[64] [65] Subsequently, on August 1, 2014, after the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier, Danon was quoted as saying "If we don't get the soldier back within a few hours we should start levelling Gaza."[66]

In November 2023, during the Israel–Hamas war, he suggested moving Palestinians from Gaza to countries that would be willing to accept them. Israel’s far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich praised his proposal, writing: "I welcome the initiative of members of Knesset Ram Ben-Barak and Danny Danon on the voluntary immigration of Gaza Arabs to the countries of the world. This is the right humanitarian solution for the residents of Gaza and the entire region."[67]

Immigration from Africa

Danon is an opponent of immigration from Africa, and in 2011 said that the "arrival of thousands of Muslim infiltrators to Israeli territory is a clear threat to the state’s Jewish identity." Danon asked then-Australian MP Michael Danby if it would be possible to transfer African migrants in Israel to Australia.[68]

Writing

Danon published his first book in September 2012, titled Israel: the Will to Prevail. The book analyzes the Israel–US relationship and presents alternative approaches to the conventional wisdom on negotiating peace between Israelis and Palestinians. It also criticizes President Obama's approach to Israel.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Knesset Member Danny Danon . 2024-04-19 . www.knesset.gov.il.
  2. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=728305 Betar chair trounces MK Steinitz in World Likud poll
  3. News: McGreal . Chris . 2015-10-01 . Israel's new UN ambassador is a rightwing thorn in Netanyahu's side . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-11-08 . 0261-3077.
  4. Web site: 2024-06-30 . Gov. unanimously approves appointment of Danny Danon as UN Ambassador . 2024-06-30 . The Jerusalem Post JPost.com . en.
  5. Web site: Gedalyah . Reback . 2015-05-17 . Jokers skewer space minister Danon . 2023-11-08 . The Times of Israel.
  6. Web site: In first for Israel, Danon elected chairman of UN Legal Committee . 2016-06-22 . The Jerusalem Post.
  7. Web site: 2017-12-21 . UN Overwhelmingly Rejects US Recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's Capital . 2023-11-08 . Voice of America . en.
  8. Web site: 2017-12-21 . Danon: Supporters of UN resolution are ‘puppets pulled by Palestinian masters’ . 2023-11-08 . The Times of Israel.
  9. Web site: 2020-07-05 . Cabinet approves Gilad Erdan as ambassador to the UN and the US . 2023-11-08 . The Times of Israel.
  10. News: On the cusp. Paz. Shelly. 2009-02-05. The Jerusalem Post. 2009-03-04.
  11. http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1184672473925 Danon joins race for Likud leadership
  12. Web site: סיכום פריימריס 2007 לפי אתר הצבעה . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928223317/http://www.likud.org.il/files/wordocs/Prim_l.pdf . 2007-09-28 . 2022-04-30 . . he.
  13. Web site: Knesset Member Danon Danny. www.knesset.gov.il. 2016-06-22.
  14. Web site: Knesset Passes IDF Widows' Law. Arutz Sheva. 24 November 2009 . 2016-06-22.
  15. Web site: MK Danon promises to push Hamas privileges bill. The Jerusalem Post . 2016-06-22.
  16. Web site: MK Danon: Alcohol Advertising Law Will Prevent Abuse - Latest News Briefs - Arutz Sheva. Arutz Sheva. 9 July 2012 . 2016-06-22.
  17. News: New law bans use of underweight models in ads. Ynetnews. Moran. Azulay. 19 March 2012 . 2016-06-22.
  18. http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/talktojazeera/2011/08/201185103022120129.html Danny Danon talks to Al Jazeera
  19. Web site: Netanyahu fires Danny Danon over criticism of Gaza war. The Times of Israel. 15 July 2014. 12 December 2022.
  20. News: 8 December 2014 . Danny Danon submits candidacy for Likud leadership . The Times of Israel . 9 December 2014.
  21. Web site: 2014-11-08 . Danny Danon submits candidacy for Likud leadership . 2023-11-08 . The Times of Israel.
  22. Web site: 14 May 2015 . Danny Danon Appointed Minister of Science, Technology and Space – Latest News Briefs – Arutz Sheva . 2016-06-23 . Arutz Sheva.
  23. News: Netanyahu to Appoint Danny Danon as Israel's Next UN Envoy. Ravid. Barak. 2015-08-14. Haaretz. en. 2016-06-23.
  24. Web site: חוק. main.knesset.gov.il. he-IL. 2018-11-12.
  25. News: אושר החוק להגבלת פרסום לאלכוהול לקטינים. אזולאי. צבי לביא ומורן. 2012. Ynet. 2018-11-12. he.
  26. Web site: הצעת חוק. main.knesset.gov.il. he-IL. 2018-11-12.
  27. Web site: הצעת חוק. main.knesset.gov.il. he-IL. 2018-11-12.
  28. Web site: הצעת חוק. m.knesset.gov.il. he-IL. 2018-11-12.
  29. News: Keinon . Herb . Harkov . Lahav . 14 August 2015 . Netanyahu appoints Danny Danon as Israel's envoy to the UN . The Jerusalem Post . 15 August 2015.
  30. Web site: How Danny Danon Went From Israel's Rebel to Top Diplomat. Forward. Nathan. Guttman. 5 October 2015. 10 November 2022.
  31. Web site: 12 UN Security Council resolutions against terror - 0 for Israel. Arutz Sheva. 26 January 2016 . 2016-06-23.
  32. Web site: Israeli, Palestinian envoys turn UN meet into shouting match. The Times of Israel. 18 April 2016. 10 December 2022.
  33. Web site: Ban Ki-moon making surprise Israel trip to calm tensions. The Times of Israel. Raoul. Wootliff. 20 October 2015. 11 December 2022.
  34. Web site: US ambassador to the UN hears tales of rocket fire from Israeli mothers. The Jerusalem Post. Tovah. Lazaroff. 17 February 2016. 11 December 2022.
  35. Web site: U.N. recognizes Yom Kippur as official holiday. Tal Trachtman Alroy. CNN. 19 December 2015 . 2016-06-23.
  36. Web site: Israel accepted to UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space 29 Oct 2015. 2016-06-23.
  37. Web site: UN gives ZAKA official consultant status. The Jerusalem Post . 2016-06-23.
  38. Web site: Access Israel Organization was granted the status of a 'Special Adviser' to the UN's Economic and Social Committee!. www.aisrael.org. 2016-06-23.
  39. Web site: Agricultural Technology for Sustainable Development among Eight Texts Approved by Second Committee Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. www.un.org. 2016-06-23.
  40. Web site: UN News Centre - Remarks to Event Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Chaim Herzog's Speech Against General Assembly Resolution 3379 Equating Zionism with Racism. Section. United Nations News Service. UN News Service Section. EN. 2016-06-23.
  41. Web site: At UN Summit, Israel Ambassador, World Jewish Leader Slam 'Infected' International Body for Backing BDS. Lea. Speyer. The Algemeiner. 31 May 2016. 12 December 2022.
  42. Web site: In first, Israel elected to head a permanent UN committee. . 2016-06-23.
  43. News: UN's Ban on Palestinian Violence: It Is 'Human Nature' to React to Occupation. Associated Press. 2016-01-26. Haaretz. en. 2016-06-23.
  44. Web site: UN News - UN chief condemns deadly terrorist attack in Tel Aviv. Section. United Nations News Service. 2016-06-08. UN News Service Section. 2016-06-23.
  45. Web site: UN Security Council condemns Tel Aviv terror attack. The Times of Israel. 10 June 2016. 11 December 2022.
  46. Web site: 17 June 2016 . mideast shorts | j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California . 2016-06-19 . Jweekly.com.
  47. Web site: Winer . Stuart . 2016-06-13 . In first, Israel elected to head a permanent UN committee . 2016-06-19 . The Times of Israel.
  48. Web site: 2017-05-31 . Israeli ambassador to UN Danny Danon elected VP of General Assembly, win seen as a triumph for Israel . 2023-11-08 . ABC News . en.
  49. News: Eichner. Itamar. Levy. Elior. Press. Reuters and The Associated. 2017-12-21. UN declares US Jerusalem decision 'null, void'. en. Ynetnews. 2022-02-10.
  50. Web site: staff. T. O. I.. 'We will overcome this evil decree,' Israel tells UNSC after anti-settlement vote. 23 December 2016. 2022-02-10. The Times of Israel. en-US.
  51. Web site: 2017-12-21 . UN Overwhelmingly Rejects US Recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's Capital . 2023-11-08 . Voice of America . en.
  52. Web site: דני דנון ירוץ בפריימריז של הליכוד: "סומך על הבוחרים" . 2022-11-05 . סרוגים . he.
  53. Web site: אמסלם המריא, כהן הפתיע, אכזבה לכ"ץ ואדלשטיין: זו רשימת הליכוד לכנסת הבאה . 2022-11-05 . Maariv. he.
  54. Web site: 2022-11-06 . Danny Danon determined: I want the position of Speaker of the Knesset . 2023-11-08 . Israel National News.
  55. Web site: 2021-02-24 . Danny Danon sees himself as a future Likud leader . 2023-11-08 . The Jerusalem Post JPost.com . en-US.
  56. Web site: Cohen . Shimon . 2023-10-25 . MK Danny Danon: 'Sever all ties with the UN Secretary General' . 2023-11-09 . Israel National News.
  57. Web site: Danny Danon דני דנון . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231109165459/https://twitter.com/dannydanon/status/1722613218437480704 . 9 November 2023 . 2023-11-12 . X (formerly Twitter) . en.
  58. Web site: 2024-06-30 . הממשלה אישרה את מינויו של ח"כ דני דנון לשגריר ישראל באו"ם - וואלה חדשות . 2024-07-19 . Walla . he.
  59. Web site: 2024-06-30 . אחרי המינוי של דנון: זה חבר הכנסת שחוזר למשכן . 2024-07-19 . Maariv . he.
  60. David Horowitz, 'Danny Danon, dismally, is the true face of Netanyahu’s Israel,' Times of Israel 14 August 2015.
  61. Web site: Kalman. Aaron. Supporters of peace deal have no place in Likud, says MK. Times of Israel. 4 November 2015. September 4, 2013.
  62. Web site: Danon. Danny. Making the Land of Israel Whole. The New York Times. 4 November 2015. May 18, 2011.
  63. The Party Faithful. The New Yorker. David. Remnick . David Remnick. 21 January 2013. 12 December 2022.
  64. Web site: Deputy defense minister demands Israel cut off fuel, electricity supply to Gaza. The Jerusalem Post. 4 November 2015. July 9, 2014.
  65. Web site: Minister Campaigns to Cut Electricity to Gaza. Israel National News. Arutz Sheva. 4 November 2015. July 9, 2014.
  66. News: MK Danon to Ynet: If the soldier isn't returned, 'we should start leveling Gaza'. Ynetnews. Yedioth Media Group. 4 November 2015. August 1, 2013.
  67. News: Israeli minister supports ‘voluntary migration’ of Palestinians in Gaza . Al Jazeera . 14 November 2023.
  68. Web site: 2011-06-30 . Danny Danon: Send African migrants to Australia . 2023-11-09 . The Jerusalem Post JPost.com . en-US.