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In the Lion's Den: Israel and the World
Israeli statesman and former UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, presents a compelling vision of Israel’s future as a major player on the global stage.
In the Lion’s Den is a book about the life events that encouraged Danny Danon to pursue his chosen career path and take his distinct and direct approach during his time as Knesset Member and later on in his political career. It is a book that tells the story of his journey to the United Nations and the key events that occurred during the five years he served as Israel’s 17th Permanent Representative to the UN.
In the Lion’s Den draws on the unique perspective of a man who has spent his entire career in his nation’s public service. Danon shares his experiences on the front lines of Israel’s global presence––the successes as well as the disappointments. Danon makes a compelling case for an Israel that must be proud of its identity and faith; forge relationships with diverse peoples; make autonomous domestic decisions; and determine its own foreign policy.
In this book, Danon lays out a roadmap for Israel’s future on the regional and global stage and outlines the path Israel must follow in order to continue to make a positive contribution to global prosperity and peace and ensure its safety in a fraught region. As the Jewish state enters the next phase of its existence, Danon’s inspiring vision will help Israel fulfill the noble vision of its founders.
In the Lion’s Den is a book about the life events that encouraged Danny Danon to pursue his chosen career path and take his distinct and direct approach during his time as Knesset Member and later on in his political career. It is a book that tells the story of his journey to the United Nations and the key events that occurred during the five years he served as Israel’s 17th Permanent Representative to the UN.
In the Lion’s Den draws on the unique perspective of a man who has spent his entire career in his nation’s public service. Danon shares his experiences on the front lines of Israel’s global presence––the successes as well as the disappointments. Danon makes a compelling case for an Israel that must be proud of its identity and faith; forge relationships with diverse peoples; make autonomous domestic decisions; and determine its own foreign policy.
In this book, Danon lays out a roadmap for Israel’s future on the regional and global stage and outlines the path Israel must follow in order to continue to make a positive contribution to global prosperity and peace and ensure its safety in a fraught region. As the Jewish state enters the next phase of its existence, Danon’s inspiring vision will help Israel fulfill the noble vision of its founders.
- GenresIsrael
232 pages, Hardcover
Published May 17, 2022
25 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 7, 2023
An interesting look into the United Nations. Found out about this book from The 700 Club t. v. program.
September 28, 2022
I have read many autobiographies that people have written looking back at the things they have done in their life. I have also read books, the most recent being Michael Oren's "Ally" about a particular event, period of assignment someone has gone through. This book definitely falls into the second category; however, unlike others I have read, this one simply is self indulgent treatise on how remarkable Danny Danon views his abilities, accomplishments and dare I say, even a hint of how he will take all these remarkable accomplishments into his future as Prime Minister of Israel.
This is evident from the very opening of the book. In his description of being offered and accepting the job as UN Ambassador, he provides us with a fairy tale of the situation between then Prime Minister Netanyahu and himself. He frequently throughout the book offers the view that although he and PM Netanyahu did not always agree, they did know how to work together. And yet, all who follow Israeli politics know that PM Netanyahu sent Danny Danon to the UN to exile him from the Knesset and Israel politics for 5 years.
The United Nations and it's affiliate organizations is perhaps one of the most hostile environments for the Israeli government on the planet. And yes, I do agree, that Danny Danon does have much to be proud of in his tenure there and that is all we read about. Most of his accomplishments were known to me, although a few were new. What I did not read was any of the real challenges he faced, where he was not able to make a difference, and why the UN is such a challenge for Israel.
So if you are interested and believe that Danny Danon does have a future as the leader of Likud and one day as Prime Minister, you may want to read this book. If you are, like me, interested in the inner workings of one of the toughest assignments an Israeli government official can face to better understand the UN, this is not the book for you.
This is evident from the very opening of the book. In his description of being offered and accepting the job as UN Ambassador, he provides us with a fairy tale of the situation between then Prime Minister Netanyahu and himself. He frequently throughout the book offers the view that although he and PM Netanyahu did not always agree, they did know how to work together. And yet, all who follow Israeli politics know that PM Netanyahu sent Danny Danon to the UN to exile him from the Knesset and Israel politics for 5 years.
The United Nations and it's affiliate organizations is perhaps one of the most hostile environments for the Israeli government on the planet. And yes, I do agree, that Danny Danon does have much to be proud of in his tenure there and that is all we read about. Most of his accomplishments were known to me, although a few were new. What I did not read was any of the real challenges he faced, where he was not able to make a difference, and why the UN is such a challenge for Israel.
So if you are interested and believe that Danny Danon does have a future as the leader of Likud and one day as Prime Minister, you may want to read this book. If you are, like me, interested in the inner workings of one of the toughest assignments an Israeli government official can face to better understand the UN, this is not the book for you.
June 14, 2024
**.5
I'd normally have nothing to do with a right-wing clown like Danon (Israel's counterpart to Nikki Haley in the UN, who wrote the gushing forward to this book*), but I'm trying to broaden my exposure to a variety of viewpoints in an attempt to better see a way through the current disastrous situation.
Alas, the book sheds no useful light on any issues, and instead is devoted to the author praising himself and his self-proclaimed accomplishments. His ability to spin even the most humiliating defeat into a perceived victory is breathtaking in its audacity. The book reads more like a campaign advertisement than an ideological statement. His political ambition is clear, as his willingness to butt heads with rival diplomats, his own boss the Prime Minister of Israel, and even the President of the United States.
As a result of seeking a broader following and more public support as he seeks to advance his career and potentially challenge Netanyahu for control of the Likud Party (and hence lead the country), he generally comes across as a lot more moderate in the book than his infamous use of inflammatory rhetoric would suggest. While less extreme and loathsome, it ends up not really having all that much to say. For instance, he only briefly touches on his controversial stance that Israel should formally annul the Oslo Accords and reject any sort of two-state solution (see his 2013 NY Times Op Ed for details, https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/21/op...) at the very end of the book, without any proposal for an alternative solution.
Audiobook: some of the worst butchering of Israeli names and Hebrew words I've come across so far, the sort of thing that would usually prompt Danon rush to a TV studio to issue a fiery statement about how shameful it is.
*The two of them were in the news again recently as Danon hosted Haley's visit to Israel in late May 2024, where she proudly scrawled the violent message "Finish Them!" on an Israeli army artillery shell.
I'd normally have nothing to do with a right-wing clown like Danon (Israel's counterpart to Nikki Haley in the UN, who wrote the gushing forward to this book*), but I'm trying to broaden my exposure to a variety of viewpoints in an attempt to better see a way through the current disastrous situation.
Alas, the book sheds no useful light on any issues, and instead is devoted to the author praising himself and his self-proclaimed accomplishments. His ability to spin even the most humiliating defeat into a perceived victory is breathtaking in its audacity. The book reads more like a campaign advertisement than an ideological statement. His political ambition is clear, as his willingness to butt heads with rival diplomats, his own boss the Prime Minister of Israel, and even the President of the United States.
As a result of seeking a broader following and more public support as he seeks to advance his career and potentially challenge Netanyahu for control of the Likud Party (and hence lead the country), he generally comes across as a lot more moderate in the book than his infamous use of inflammatory rhetoric would suggest. While less extreme and loathsome, it ends up not really having all that much to say. For instance, he only briefly touches on his controversial stance that Israel should formally annul the Oslo Accords and reject any sort of two-state solution (see his 2013 NY Times Op Ed for details, https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/21/op...) at the very end of the book, without any proposal for an alternative solution.
Audiobook: some of the worst butchering of Israeli names and Hebrew words I've come across so far, the sort of thing that would usually prompt Danon rush to a TV studio to issue a fiery statement about how shameful it is.
*The two of them were in the news again recently as Danon hosted Haley's visit to Israel in late May 2024, where she proudly scrawled the violent message "Finish Them!" on an Israeli army artillery shell.
July 1, 2025
The forward written by Nikki Haley is a big plus to the book. From someone who has lived the life of a Jew in the middle of a "Lion's Den" I believe you cannot but marvel at what Danon has accomplished as he endures, for his country, all that hatred and antisemitism coming from around the globe. He certain is not afraid to speak his mind and pick his battles intending to win (being appointed as chair to the Legal Committe is simply astounding). I learned a lot about the makings and procedures within the United Nations (UN). I bookmarked so many spots in the book that highlight the despicable behavior of the Obama administration, the media and many others that show how evil and bias they are towards Israel and her legitimate defense of its borders. The list is endless, how Iran was handled (obviously we have just seen how wrong it was to pump billions of dollars into Iran so that regime can fund terrorism and their nuclear program), the back-door policy of UN resolutions, the ongoing Gaza/terrorist actions misconstrued in the media and in the UN. My one negative thought is throughout the book he thumps his chest saying look what I have done. Certainly, he has accomplished a lot, but the book seems to be very self-serving in that regard. But I am glad he serves Israel and now at least he has Trump in charge again to lend a hand.
July 25, 2022
Danny Danon is a fighter, and this book shows his fighting spirit taking on the UN.
June 8, 2025
An in depth insight into the workings of the UN and International Diplomacy. Somewhat self-congratulatory.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews