South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for ambassador to the United Nations, harshly criticized the world body over its “long history of anti-Israel bias” in testimony Wednesday to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Haley was also highly critical of President Barack Obama’s decision to refuse to veto last month’s U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israel for its settlement policy, which she called a “terrible mistake.” She pledged to reject future U.N. measures that unfairly target the Jewish state.
Haley said she will not go to the U.N. and “abstain when the U.N. seeks to create an international environment that encourages boycotts of Israel.” She also said she is “absolutely” in favor of the U.S. moving its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon thanked Haley for her “unequivocal support” of Israel and her willingness to confront discrimination against the Jewish state at the world body.
“We look forward to working together with her to undo the damage done by the shameful Security Council resolution, and to lead towards a new era at the U.N. which includes real reforms that will put an end to the biased obsession with Israel,” Danon said.
