Israeli Ambassador Shreds UN Charter to Protest Palestinian Statehood Vote

In a dramatic display of protest, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan shredded a copy of the UN Charter during a General Assembly plenum session before a vote to enhance the standing of the Palestinian observer mission and urge the Security Council to reconsider granting it full-member status.

Erdan vehemently opposed the resolution, accusing the General Assembly of disregarding the UN Charter's principles and circumventing the Security Council's decision to reject Palestine's application for full membership. He accused the Palestinians of being "terror-loving" rather than "peace-loving," a prerequisite for UN membership outlined in the Charter.

"With today's destructive resolution, you are circumventing the Security Council, ignoring its decision, and violating the norms this organization has abided by," Erdan declared, invoking the Holocaust and World War II to condemn the resolution as advancing "a Palestinian terror state led by the Hitler of our time."

Despite Erdan's protests and the dramatic shredding of the Charter, the General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of the resolution, highlighting the deep divisions between Israel and the international community over the Palestinian statehood issue.

Why this matters: The incident underscores the long-standing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, with the UN serving as a battleground for the diplomatic tug-of-war. Israel's strong opposition to Palestinian statehood and the UN's efforts to advance the Palestinian cause have contributed to ongoing tensions and stalled peace negotiations.

Key Takeaways:

•  The Israeli Ambassador shredded a copy of the UN Charter to protest a resolution enhancing the Palestinian observer mission's standing.
• Erdan accused the General Assembly of disregarding the Charter's principles and circumventing the Security Council's decision.
• He condemned the resolution as advancing a "Palestinian terror state" and invoked the Holocaust and World War II.
• Despite Israel's protests, the General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of the resolution.
• The incident highlights the deep divisions between Israel and the international community over Palestinian statehood.