In a dramatic display of protest, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, shredded a copy of the UN Charter at the General Assembly over the passage of a resolution supporting full membership for Palestine. India, meanwhile, backed the resolution.
Erdan called the resolution a “clear violation” of the UN Charter, claiming that it undermines the US veto in the Security Council. He shredded the Charter as a symbol of his protest, stating, “This day will go down in infamy… I want to hold up a mirror for you, so you can see exactly what you are inflicting upon the UN Charter with this destructive vote. You are shredding the UN Charter with your own hands.”
The UNGA resolution, passed by a majority of 143 votes, including India, asks the Security Council to grant Palestine, which currently has observer status, full membership. The resolution argues that Palestine meets the requirements for membership under Article 4 of the UN Charter. However, Israel, the US, and several other nations voted against the resolution.
Erdan also criticized the resolution for opening up the UN to “modern day Nazis” and accused Hamas of being a terrorist organization. He presented an image of Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza, as the potential future president of a UN-backed Palestinian state.
India’s support for the resolution contrasts with the US’s opposition. Last month, the US used its veto power to block a similar resolution in the UN Security Council. The Trump administration believes that the issue of Palestinian statehood should be resolved through direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine.
This news article highlights the ongoing tensions and differing perspectives surrounding the issue of Palestinian statehood and the role of international organizations like the UN in resolving it.