Israeli Ambassador Shreds UN Charter During Palestine Membership Vote: A Turning Point

New York, New York, USA United States of America
Israeli ambassador Gilad Erdan shredded a mock UN charter during Palestinian membership vote at the General Assembly
Israel opposed Palestinian membership, joined by Argentina, Czechia, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Papua New Guinea. France, Japan, South Korea among countries that abstained.
Palestinian U.N. ambassador Riyad Mansour announced that 144 countries have recognized the state of Palestine
UN General Assembly voted to grant new rights and privileges to Palestine and called on Security Council to reconsider membership request
Israeli Ambassador Shreds UN Charter During Palestine Membership Vote: A Turning Point

In a dramatic turn of events at the United Nations, Israel's ambassador, Gilad Erdan, shredded a mock copy of the UN charter during a speech before the General Assembly as they voted on Palestinian membership. The vote came after weeks of escalating tensions between Israel and Palestine following Hamas attacks in southern Israel.

The United States promised to vote against any resolution granting full UN membership to the Palestinians, maintaining that it supports Palestinian statehood but believes it should come from a process involving direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. The US Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, stated that their vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood.

Despite this setback for the Palestinians, they have received significant support from other countries. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, announced that 144 countries have now recognized the state of Palestine.

The original draft of the resolution was changed significantly to address concerns from major powers such as Russia and China. The UN General Assembly voted to grant new rights and privileges to Palestine and called on the Security Council to reconsider their request for membership in the United Nations.

Israel, which opposes Palestinian membership, was not alone in its vote against the resolution. Argentina, Czechia, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Papua New Guinea also voted against it. France, Japan, South Korea and other countries abstained from the vote.

The UN charter shredding incident by Israeli ambassador Gilad Erdan sparked outrage among many delegates at the General Assembly. The United States Mission to the UN issued a statement saying 'THIS IS A TURNING POINT.'



Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • Was the mock UN charter an original or a replica?
  • Were there any consequences for Gilad Erdan's actions?

Sources

85%

  • Unique Points
    • The US promises to vote against any resolution granting full UN membership to the Palestinians.
    • , The US maintains that it supports Palestinian statehood but believes it should come from a process involving direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
    • A negotiated two-state solution is considered by the US as the best path towards lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
  • Accuracy
    • The UN General Assembly voted to grant new rights and privileges to Palestine and called on the Security Council to reconsider Palestinian membership in the UN.
    • Israeli ambassador Gilad Erdan shredded a mock copy of the UN charter during a speech before the UN assembly
  • Deception (50%)
    The author makes editorializing statements by labeling the UN General Assembly resolution as 'an immoral act' and 'unproductive'. He also uses emotional manipulation by quoting Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan's statement that the UN charter means nothing to those who support Palestinian statehood. The article also engages in selective reporting by only mentioning the negative aspects of the resolution, while omitting any discussion of its potential positive outcomes or benefits for peace in the region.
    • The U.S. has promised to vote against any resolution that would seek to grant the Palestinians full membership in the United Nations after a General Assembly resolution passed with significant support from member states.
    • several members in their post-vote statements stressed that they condemned the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, but argued that they deemed Israel’s actions in Gaza of having gone too far.
    • Israeli ambassador shreds UN charter During his speech to the General Assembly, Gilad Erdan said ‘when it comes to the lives of Israelis and Jews the UN charter means nothing to you.’ He called the vote on Palestinian statehood ‘an immoral act.’
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority when quoting Gilad Erdan's statement that 'when it comes to the lives of Israelis and Jews the UN charter means nothing to you.' This is a fallacious use of authority as Erdan's opinion does not make the UN Charter meaningless for everyone. Additionally, there are several instances of inflammatory rhetoric used by various individuals in the article, including Erdan's statement that supporting the Palestinian membership resolution is 'shredding the UN charter.' These statements are intended to evoke strong emotions and may sway readers without providing logical reasoning.
    • "when it comes to the lives of Israelis and Jews the UN charter means nothing to you."
    • "Shame on you,' Erdan said as he shredded a small paper with 'Charter of the United Nations' written on it in a handheld paper shredder.
    • several members in their post-vote statements stressed that they condemned the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, but argued that they deemed Israel’s actions in Gaza of having gone too far.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

92%

  • Unique Points
    • Israeli ambassador Gilad Erdan shredded the UN charter during a speech before the UN assembly
    • The United Nations passed a resolution calling for the Security Council to reconsider Palestinian membership in the UN but this fact is not unique as it is mentioned in all articles
  • Accuracy
    • ]The UN passed a resolution calling for the Security Council to reconsider Palestinian membership in the UN[
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

80%

  • Unique Points
    • The UN General Assembly voted to grant new rights and privileges to Palestine and called on the Security Council to reconsider Palestine’s request to become the 194th member of the United Nations.
    • , The original draft of the resolution was changed significantly to address concerns from the US, Russia, and China.
    • Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, said that 144 countries have now recognized the state of Palestine.
  • Accuracy
    • The US has made clear that it will block Palestinian membership and statehood until direct negotiations with Israel resolve key issues, including security, boundaries, and the future of Jerusalem.
    • Israel's U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan accused U.N. member nations of not mentioning Hamas’ Oct 7 attack and seeking to reward modern-day Nazis with rights and privileges.
    • The US maintains that it supports Palestinian statehood but believes it should come from a process involving direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains editorializing and emotional manipulation. The author uses phrases like 'wide global support for full membership of Palestine in the United Nations', 'escalating death toll in Gaza', 'major Israeli offensive in Rafah', and 'growing support for the Palestinians'. These phrases are not objective facts but rather attempts to elicit an emotional response from readers. The author also quotes Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, making accusations against Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas without providing any evidence or context.
    • It also demonstrated growing support for the Palestinians.
    • He welcomed the resolution's strong support and told AP that 144 countries have now recognized the state of Palestine, including four countries since Oct. 7, all from the Caribbean.
    • The world body approved the Arab and Palestinian-sponsored resolution by a vote of 143-9 with 25 abstentions.
    • Many countries expressed outrage at the escalating death toll in Gaza and fears of a major Israeli offensive in Rafah, a southern city where about 1.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The author makes an appeal to emotion by describing the 'wide global support for full membership of Palestine in the United Nations' and expresses outrage at the 'escalating death toll in Gaza' and fears of a major Israeli offensive. The author also quotes Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, who accuses Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of preparing 'to kill thousands to ensure his political survival' and aiming to destroy the Palestinian people.
    • The world body approved the Arab and Palestinian-sponsored resolution by a vote of 143-9 with 25 abstentions... It also demonstrated growing support for the Palestinians.
    • , many countries expressing outrage at the escalating death toll in Gaza and fears of a major Israeli offensive in Rafah, a southern city where about 1.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge.
    • It also demonstrated growing support for the Palestinians... A General Assembly resolution on Oct. 27 calling for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza was approved 120-14 with 45 abstentions.
    • Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, told the assembly in an emotional speech that ‘No words can capture what such loss and trauma signifies for Palestinians, their families, communities and for our nation as a whole.’ He said Palestinians in Gaza ‘have been pushed to the very edge of the strip, to the very brink of life’ with Israel besieging Rafah.
    • He accused Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of preparing ‘to kill thousands to ensure his political survival’ and aiming to destroy the Palestinian people.
  • Bias (95%)
    The article expresses a clear bias towards the Palestinian perspective in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The author uses language that depicts Israel as an aggressor and occupier, while Palestinians are portrayed as victims. The author also quotes Palestinian officials making extreme statements against Israel and its leaders, without providing any counterbalance or context.
    • He accused Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of preparing ‘to kill thousands to ensure his political survival’ and aiming to destroy the Palestinian people.
      • He held up a photo of Yehya Sinwar, the mastermind of the Hamas attack on Israel, saying a terrorist ‘whose stated goal is Jewish genocide’ would be a future Palestinian leader.
        • Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan vehemently opposed the resolution, accusing U.N. member nations of not mentioning Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack and seeking ‘to reward modern-day Nazis with rights and privileges.’
          • It also demonstrated growing support for the Palestinians.
            • Many countries expressing outrage at the escalating death toll in Gaza and fears of a major Israeli offensive in Rafah, a southern city where about 1.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge.
              • Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, told the assembly in an emotional speech that ‘No words can capture what such loss and trauma signifies for Palestinians, their families, communities and for our nation as a whole.’
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication

              94%

              • Unique Points
                • Israel's United Nations ambassador shredded a mock copy of the U.N. charter before a vote on Palestinian membership
                • Ambassador Gilad Erdan invoked Holocaust, World War Two and Oct. 7 Hamas attack during his speech against Palestinian membership
                • Estimated 100,000 residents ordered to evacuate Rafah for their safety
              • Accuracy
                • Palestinian membership to the world body was advanced in the General Assembly
                • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was accused of being ready to kill thousands more for political survival
              • Deception (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Fallacies (85%)
                The author makes an appeal to emotion when quoting the Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour's statement about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu being 'ready to kill thousands more for his political survival'. This is an example of an Appeal to Emotion fallacy.
                • Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour implored the assembly to vote 'Yes.' In the face of a looming Israeli invasion of Rafah, he said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was 'ready to kill thousands more for his political survival.'
              • Bias (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication