Ronn Torossian on Danny Danon

for Times of Israel

Danny Danon has attracted International media attention this week with his election to the head of the Likud Central Committee. Indeed, the ideological young politician is driven – as his activism has evolved since serving as the head of the Betar Zionist Youth Movement. Some media outlets have inaccurately labeled him – and it couldn’t be more untrue. Wrongly, Agence France Press (AFP) called Danon ¨.. a key figure of the radical right.¨

What is it which makes him radical? Nowhere else in the world are people expected to negotiate with someone devoted to their destruction. America doesn’t negotiate with Al Qaeda – and that isn’t radical. Danon standing against a 2-state solution, after the failure called Oslo, bus bombings and repeated violence isn’t radical – it is sanity. Anywhere else in the world, except the Middle East, Jews can live anywhere they choose. Of course, while Arabs live (and pray) freely in the Land of Israel, one does not see Jews living in Tripoli, Beirut or Tehran. Danon isn’t a radical for respecting the right of Jews to live anywhere they choose.

As CEO of a PR Agency, I can attest that Danny Danon speaks “perfect American”, and understands how to make Israel resonate with an American audience. The era of Danny Danon’s rise to power in Likud is likely to mean a time of Jewish pride. Danon values the importance of Jewish education worldwide, and while serving as an emissary for the Jewish Agency overseas, as well as while an Israeli army officer he taught on Jewish education.

The only thing radical about Danny Danon is his occasional wearing of a checkered shirt instead of his usual finely tailored solid shirts and suits. Danon’s election to head of the Likud Party Central Committee should be a non-factor for the world media. Instead of focusing on Danon’s election, maybe media can share even 1 name amongst the 100,000 who have been slaughtered in Syria during brutal fighting.

* Ronn Torossian, the author of this article and Danon are friends and colleagues for more than 20 years.