Israel’s ambassador elected as vice-president of UN General Assembly

Middle East Monitor  /  June 8, 2022

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, has been elected to the position of the UN General Assembly’s vice-president, in a move which is set to grant Tel Aviv more sway over the institution.

As one of 21 vice-presidents in the UNGA, Erdan will begin his year-long role in September, when the Assembly gathers for its annual session, enabling him to chair meetings and be involved in the setting of those meetings’ agendas.

Erdan’s appointment to the position is predicted to grant Israel more influence within the UN as a whole, with Erdan calling it a valuable platform in the face of “ongoing lies of the Palestinians and others at the UN.”

He stated that “This triumph sends a clear message to our enemies that they will not prevent us from participating in leading roles at the UN and in the international arena. Hatred must never triumph over the truth.  I won’t allow it.”

His appointment comes at a time when Palestinians and rights groups are increasingly requesting the UN to conduct investigations into numerous human rights violations committed by Israeli forces, the latest of which was the killing of the veteran Palestinian-American journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, in Jenin last month.

While Israeli forces denied that they were the ones who shot her in the head and blamed it on Palestinians, several eyewitnesses – as well as footage and images – indicated that the occupation forces were responsible for her murder. The UN’s Special Rapporteur for Palestine also acknowledged that the killing was a “possible war crime”.

Although the UN acknowledges Israel’s use of apartheid measures and policies against Palestinians, as well as its continued violation of international law in the West Bank, little has been done by the global institution or its member states to hold Tel Aviv to account.

Analysts and human rights groups now fear that Erdan’s new position will be used to further Israel’s impunity in the face of such violations and to provide it with even more influence and sway over the UNGA and its agenda.

Erdan is not the first Israeli ambassador to be appointed as the Assembly’s vice-president, however, his predecessor, Danny Danon was also elected to the role for the 72nd session of the UNGA back in 2017.