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.
asserted
diplomats → address → exits
The intended image was unmistakable: Israel was made to appear as though it stood alone, rejected by the world.
asserted
it → intend → world
We should not accept that image at face value.
asserted
We → accept → value
A dramatic walkout makes compelling footage.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
what → speak → Assembly
“We counted the numbers, and more than 100 delegations stayed in the room,” Danon told me.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
Danon → have → Libya
“When they walk out, it will look like a lot of people are walking out.”
asserted
lot → walk → people
The walkout should therefore be understood for what it was: political theater designed to manufacture an image of Israeli isolation.
asserted
it → understand → isolation
The more meaningful story unfolded outside that frame.
asserted
story → unfold → frame
Netanyahu met with seven heads of state during an effective diplomatic week, according to Danon.
uncertain
Netanyahu → meet → Danon
Israel’s representatives also held quiet conversations with key stakeholders about regional challenges and possible next steps.
asserted
representatives → hold → challenges
“We were able to learn and also to send messages regarding the next steps,” Danon said.
asserted
Danon → learn → steps
That is the diplomacy I believe deserves far more attention.
asserted
I → believe → attention
International relationships are built through repeated conversations, shared initiatives, and officials willing to remain engaged when public pressure rewards distance.
asserted
pressure → build → distance
Danon understands this.
asserted
Danon → understand → this
His approach is not to withdraw from an institution that often treats Israel unfairly.
asserted
that → withdraw → Israel
It is to make Israel impossible to exclude from its work.
asserted
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.
asserted
he → go → U.N.
“That’s my approach, to be everywhere, take part in many events.
asserted
That → ’ → events
That is exactly the posture Israel needs.
asserted
Israel → need → ?
Israel cannot allow its critics to become the only people shaping international opinion.
asserted
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.
asserted
they → enter → countries
Danon’s work beyond the cameras matters because partnerships shape perception.
asserted
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.
asserted
diplomats → know → time
Danon rejected the claim that Israel has been left without friends.
uncertain
Israel → reject → friends
“I beg to differ with that, because we have a lot of friends,” he said.
asserted
he → beg → friends
He pointed to what he described as encouraging support across Latin America, with Brazil as the notable exception.
asserted
he → point → exception
He also expressed optimism about Venezuela following a positive meeting with its ambassador to the United Nations.
asserted
He → express → Nations
“I think we can continue to do that,” Danon said.
asserted
Danon → think → that
The comment may sound modest, yet it reflects how diplomacy often works.
uncertain
diplomacy → sound → ?
Progress does not always begin with a grand announcement.
asserted
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.
uncertain
others → begin → representative
Danon deserves credit for pursuing those openings rather than allowing hostility to dictate the limits of Israel’s engagement.
asserted
hostility → deserve → engagement
Israel undoubtedly faces serious diplomatic challenges.
asserted
Israel → face → challenges
Organized campaigns seek to delegitimize it.
asserted
campaigns → seek → it
Some governments find it easier to condemn Israel than confront far more destructive forces.
asserted
it → find → forces
…and 16 more, not listed.
The Aporia
