US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has vowed to defend Israel at the global body during talks with Israeli officials in the occupied territories of Palestine in Jerusalem al-Quds.
Haley said Wednesday that it’s a “new day” for Israel at the UN ahead of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"I have never taken kindly to bullies, and the UN has bullied Israel for a very long time," she claimed. "We are not going to let that happen anymore. “
"It is a new day for Israel in the United Nations," she added.
Netanyahu welcomed the US diplomat’s tough stance, saying US President Donald Trump and Haley “have changed the discourse” at the UN.
“Thank you for all your help and standing up for Israel,” Netanyahu added.
Earlier, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin also met Haley at his residence in Jerusalem al-Quds and hailed her for defending Israel at international arenas.
“Israel is no longer alone at the UN. Israel is no longer the UN's punching bag,” Reuven said.
The Israeli president, meanwhile, criticized the council, saying it has been hijacked as a weapon against Israel.
On Tuesday in Geneva, Haley warned the US may withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) unless the body eliminates its "chronic anti-Israel bias."
“The United States is looking carefully at this council and our participation in it. We see some areas for significant strengthening,” Haley said at the UNHRC.
Trump came to power in January promising to lead the most pro-Israel US government in history. Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama often clashed with the Israeli premier.
The Trump administration strongly criticized the UN for a Security Council resolution last year that condemned Israeli settlement construction on occupied Palestinian territories.
Over half a million Israelis live in more than 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem al-Quds.