Israeli Ambassador’s Dramatic Protest
In a dramatic display of outrage, Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan shredded a copy of the UN Charter during the United Nations General Assembly session in New York. This action came as a resolution supporting full UN membership for Palestine was overwhelmingly passed.
Resolution for Palestine’s Membership
The UNGA passed a resolution asking the Security Council to grant full membership to Palestine, which currently holds observer status at the UN. The resolution, proposed by the United Arab Emirates, received support from 143 nations, including India.
- 143 nations supported the resolution
- 25 countries abstained
- 9 countries, including the US and Israel, opposed it
This vote is a significant step towards granting Palestine full membership, a status that requires approval from the Security Council.
A ‘Clear Violation’ of the UN Charter
Ambassador Erdan strongly criticized the resolution, calling it a “clear violation” of the UN Charter. He accused the General Assembly of bypassing a US veto that had been cast in the Security Council the previous month.
Erdan’s impassioned speech included references to the resolution opening the UN to “modern-day Nazis,” specifically targeting Hamas.
- Erdan referred to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as “the Hitler of our times”
- He warned that the resolution grants privileges to a future “terror state” led by Sinwar
Reactions and Responses
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, echoed Erdan’s sentiments, denouncing the resolution as an “absurd decision” that highlights the UN’s “structural bias.”
On the other hand, Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour welcomed the resolution as a significant step towards international recognition for Palestine and expressed the Palestinian Authority’s intention to pursue full membership through the Security Council.
However, the likelihood of facing a US veto, similar to the one in April, remains a challenge for this move.
