Israel’s UN envoy lashes out at Security Council for holding Palestinian agenda meeting on Israeli Memorial Day

The United Nations Security Council convened for its monthly session regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Tuesday, which coincided with Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan sought to move the date of the discussion in order to respect the sanctity of the day in which Israelis mourn and remember fallen soldiers and victims of terror. 

However, Erdan’s request was rejected by the Security Council. The meeting was chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, with Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad al-Maliki in attendance.

“Shame! This discussion desecrates the memory of the fallen. We will not take part in it,” Erdan told the UNSC before leaving the session in protest.

“What would you do if this Council was convening to single out and condemn the Russian Federation and your soldiers on the Ninth of May – on Victory Day over the Nazis?” Erdan asked Lavrov.

“We made numerous requests to reschedule today’s debate, describing the deep importance of the day, yet tragically, this Council refused to budge. The decision to nonetheless hold this debate on today of all days only further proves what Israelis already know and feel about this biased organization," Erdan slammed the top UN body.

“Today, on this hallowed day, every Israeli remembers those courageous sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, and dear friends, who lost their lives defending Israel. Yet while Israelis mourn, this Council – as usual – will hear more blatant lies condemning the State of Israel and falsely painting it as the root of all the region’s problems. This could not be further from the truth," Erdan said. 

He continued: “The only reason this conflict has not yet been resolved is because the Palestinians refuse to accept the very existence of Israel, the Jewish state, the Jewish state!” 

Before leaving the chamber, Erdan used the opportunity to read aloud the names of the troops who fell and those who were murdered due to Palestinian terror over the past year. He also lit a memorial candle. 

Israel’s Memorial Day is sacred for Israelis. Despite my requests, the @UN Security Council met today on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. To honor their memories, I read the names of our fallen soldiers and victims of Palestinian terror since last year, lit a candle, and left. pic.twitter.com/bYbdP93K8f

— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) April 25, 2023