Danny Danon

Danny Danon is an Israeli politician and a member of the Knesset for the Likud party, and currently serves as the chairman of World Likud. He previously served as Chair of the Knesset Committee for Aliyah, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs and as Deputy Minister of Defence in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Danon was born in Ramat Gan, Israel, to Joseph and Yoheved Danon. He attended Blich High School and participated in the Betar youth movement. Danon earned a Bachelor's degree in international affairs from the Florida International University, and Master's degree in public policy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. After his national service in the IDF (1994–1996), Danon was sent by the Jewish Agency to Miami.

In 1996 he was appointed assistant to Likud MK Uzi Landau. Later on he was appointed the Chairman of the World Betar organization for a few years. Prior to the 2006 elections, Danon won 23rd spot on Likud's list in the party primaries. However, the party won only 12 seats, and Danon did not enter the Knesset.

In June 2006, after beating MK Yuval Steinitz, Danon was elected Chairman of the World Likud organization.[3] 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.

In July 2007 Danon, described as one of Benjamin Netanyahu's biggest critics from within the Likud, declared his candidacy for the Likud leadership election. He eventually finished third.

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 Hizbullah, an enemy organization of Israel, during the Second Lebanon War. The petition was rejected.

Prior to the 2009 elections he won twenty-fourth place on the Likud list, and entered the Knesset as the party won 27 seats. Danon was Deputy Speaker of the Knesset during the 18th Knesset (2009-2013).

In September 2009, Danon toured the United States, meeting with Congressmen, leaders of the Jewish community and others on a public relations mission, telling lawmakers that "U.S. pressure on Israel is hurting Israel and will do nothing to advance peace.”

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

Danon is the author of "Israel: The Will to Prevail," published by Palgrave Macmillan (4 September 2012).

In March 2013, Danon was appointed as Deputy for Moshe Ya'alon, in the Ministry of Defense.

On July 15, 2014, Danon was fired from his position as Deputy Defense Minister by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after publicly criticizing Netnayahu's handling of Operation Protective Edge.

Danon submitted his candidacy for the 2014 Likud leadership election on December 8, 2014.

Danon was named the Cabinet Minister of Science, Technology, and Space following the 2015 Israeli election, and was in August 2015 appointed to the position of Israel Ambassador to the United Nations.

Sources: Paz, Shelly. "On the cusp," The Jerusalem Post (February 5, 2009);
"Betar chair trounces MK Steinitz in World Likud poll," Haaretz (June 19, 2006);
 "Danon joins race for Likud leadership," Jerusalem Post (July 13, 2007);
"400 Rabbis Send Letter to Murodch," Jewish Funds for Justice (January 27, 2011);
Moran Azulay. "Netanyahu fires Danon for critical remarks," Yedioth Acharonoth, (July 15, 2014);
Gil Hoffman. "Danon says criticism of negligent handling of Hamas tunnels led to ouster," The Jerusalem Post (September 28, 2014);
"Danny Danon submits candidacy for Likud leadership," Times of Israel (December 8, 2014);
“Ambassdor Danny Danon,” Israel Mission to the United Nations;

Wikipedia

Wikimedia, By Sasson tiram (Sasson Tiram) [CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons