Jonathan Harounoff, Israel’s spokesperson to the UN, expressed optimism over President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Elise Stefanik as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Speaking during the UN Climate Summit, Harounoff stated, “Ambassador Danon looks forward to working closely with Elise Stefanik on tackling malicious lies at the UN advanced by hostile nations while staying unswervingly committed to truth and justice.”
Stefanik, a long-time supporter of Israel, was named by Trump on Monday, signaling a likely continuation of strong U.S.-Israel relations under the incoming administration. The Trump team is expected to take a favorable stance toward Israel amid its ongoing conflict in Gaza, a departure from the current policies under the Biden administration.
The announcement comes at a critical juncture for Israel, following a non-binding UN resolution in September demanding an end to what it termed Israel’s “illegal occupation” of Palestinian territories. Israel has sharply criticized the move, calling it “diplomatic terrorism” aimed at undermining its legitimacy.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration is racing to wrap up key priorities before President-elect Trump’s inauguration in January. Efforts include pushing through additional climate initiative grants and providing more aid to Ukraine. Biden’s final months in office are also focused on implementing funding tied to major legislative victories, such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.
During this so-called “lame duck” session, when a sitting president’s time is limited and a successor has already been chosen, Biden is expected to face little meaningful opposition from Congress, giving him an opportunity to maximize the impact of his policies before Trump and a Republican-led agenda take over.
