YouSaid · the spoken record

Gilad Erdan

lines on the record
73
first
2020-10-26
most recent
2021-08-09
sittings or episodes
6
sources
un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

  1. “Iran does not try to hide its intention of destroying the world’s only Jewish State, spreading anti-Semitism, denying the Holocaust and even proposing legislation calling for Israel’s destruction by the year 2041. How is it possible that the Iranian Parliament proposing to annihilate a Member State is not at the top of the Council’s agenda? Especially on the eve of such an important day, when we commemorate the Holocaust and no doubt you will all pledge “never again”? Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel astutely said, “I learned to trust the threats of enemies before the promises of friends”. I hope that you will disprove Wiesel’s warning.”

    2021-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/91 (2021) · source

  2. “I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the new Security Council members and the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, and wish them luck in their respective positions. It is my hope that their arrival will help rid the Council of its old habits and bias against Israel and instead focus on the real threat to peace and security: the tyrannical regime in Tehran. Tomorrow, here at the United Nations and around the world, we will mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day and mourn the unfathomable murder of 6 million Jews. Indeed, 76 years after the liberation of Auschwitz, where three of my grandparents and millions of others endured the worst hell on earth, there is another genocidal regime epitomizing the very words and actions of the Nazis.”

    2021-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/91 (2021) · source

  3. “Such policies encourage terrorism, and the Governments and entities that implement them should be condemned. Twenty years after the adoption of resolution 1373 (2001), the global fight against terrorism has seen many important achievements. By adopting the five important measures I described, the international community can better prepare itself and properly respond to the challenges that global terrorism poses to our present and future world.”

    2021-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/48 (2021) · source

  4. “While the Security Council has adopted some important decisions in recent years to prevent the financing and material support to terrorist groups, more must be done. The Iranian Ayatollah regime advances its malign geopolitical goal of regional and political hegemony by supporting its terrorist proxies, wreaking havoc and spreading violence throughout the Middle East and beyond. This must be stopped. Finally, the United Nations must cease to embrace States and entities that glorify terrorists and reward acts of terrorism. For example, there should be a clear S/2021/48 and unambiguous condemnation of the Palestinian Authority’s pay-to-slay policies. Staying silent as terrorists and their families are rewarded for murderous violence, with higher sums for more violent and bloody acts, is no less than complicity.”

    2021-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/48 (2021) · source

  5. “While the Security Council has rightfully imposed sanctions on some of the main perpetrators of terrorism — namely, Da’esh, Al-Qaida and the Taliban — it has failed to address the threat posed by other non-State, major terrorist groups, especially Hamas and Hizbullah. By failing to do so, this institution has turned a blind eye towards groups that terrorize civilians regardless of their nationality or religious affiliation, use innocent victims as human shields and threaten global security. Fourthly, it is incumbent upon the Security Council to take critical and decisive action against States that arm, train and sponsor terrorists and acts of terrorism. It is not enough to sanction merely the terrorist groups themselves.”

    2021-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/48 (2021) · source

  6. “As United Nations bodies have reported, there has been an upswing in online activity, incitement and recruitment by terrorist organizations in 2020. There is no doubt this will have long- term implications on global peace and security. We must create public-private global partnerships to curb this disturbing trend. Companies must take responsibility for their role in this and take immediate action to prevent their platforms from becoming breeding grounds for extremism. While freedom of expression is of the utmost importance and must be safeguarded, it cannot be used as an excuse to allow incitement and radicalization to continue undisturbed. Thirdly, it is time to embrace counter-terrorism decisions and strategies that not only address past challenges but also adequately confront current and emerging threats.”

    2021-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/48 (2021) · source

  7. “In looking towards the future and the actions that are needed from the Security Council, the United Nations and Member States to fight terrorism effectively, I would like to suggest the following five steps. First and foremost, the Security Council and the United Nations as a whole must adopt a zero-excuses and zero-tolerance policy for terrorism. Terrorism is terrorism is terrorism, and should never be excused or justified. The United Nations should serve as a moral compass and embrace this approach with no ambiguity whatsoever. To do otherwise is to politicize and render impotent any meaningful effort to fight terrorism. Secondly, we need collective action to prevent the spread of terrorism, hatred and incitement on the Internet and social media platforms.”

    2021-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/48 (2021) · source

  8. “The State of Israel embraces resolution 1373 (2001). Its adoption has been central to effectively combating terrorism in the world after 11 September. The resolution has led the way for the imposition of critical sanctions against some of the leading threats to world security — Da’esh, Al-Qaida and the Taliban. Israel also embraces the important work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. As a leading partner in the global fight against terrorism, we will continue to work with those bodies to combat all forms and manifestations of terrorism.”

    2021-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/48 (2021) · source

  9. “However, ignoring the most pressing issues in the Middle East and expressing bias when discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, makes that hard to do. The Council must recommit itself to pursuing peace and security, and not let politics dictate its actions in the Middle East. I remain optimistic that the Security Council can fulfil its mandate and I look forward to working with its members in that noble pursuit.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  10. “Perhaps Council members are too accustomed to the ritual of these debates to see that they have been completely ineffective in answering the Palestinian question. We all know what Einstein said about trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results. While the Council’s talking points have not changed for decades, the Middle East has. Three historic agreements considered impossible to achieve were reached in just two months. The Security Council should embrace the accords and use them as a catalyst to promote peace and security in the region. It can facilitate the next round of agreements. I am committed to proving wrong all those who say that the Security Council is a lost cause.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  11. “The United Nations regularly produces distorted one-sided reports about alleged Israeli violations of Palestinian rights. Perhaps a discussion should be held about the Palestinian Authority’s violation of its own people’s rights, including the basic right to choose their leaders. It is well known that Israel has held more elections in a year than the Palestinian Authority has held in the last 15. For decades, many in the international community have fixated on a single solution to the conflict. They vote for the same anti-Israel resolutions, recycle old talking points and ignore issues that are crucial for ending the conflict. They also ignore the fact that this approach has only emboldened Palestinian rejectionism.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  12. “Of course, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is also an important issue and should be a part of the debate. Yet while discussing it every month for the last 20 years, key elements have been neglected. If you are looking for the real obstacle to peace, Mr. President, look at the Palestinian’s long record of incitement and hate. Palestinian Authority textbooks incite violence and promote terrorism and antisemitism. Through its pay-to-slay programme, the Palestinian Authority rewards terror attacks against Israeli civilians. Maybe part of the answer to the Palestinian question can be found in that fact alone. The Palestinian Authority spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year on its pay-to-slay programme. Just think how that money could have been spent this year fighting the coronavirus disease.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  13. “It has been nearly a month since Prime Minister Netanyahu revealed new intelligence about a Hizbullah arms depot embedded in Beirut’s Janah neighbourhood. The terrible explosion last August at the city’s port killed some 200 people and injured thousands. This has not stopped Hizbullah from putting Lebanese lives at the risk of another, similar disaster. This is not the first time that Hizbullah has used Lebanese civilians as human shields. Hizbullah acts in complete disregard of human life and of resolutions 1559 (2004), 1680 (2006) and 1701 (2006). If the Council truly cared about the future of the Middle East, how is it possible that all Council members have not designated Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organization? Should this question not be discussed in a debate on the situation in the Middle East?”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  14. “During President Rouhani’s tenure, Iran has executed over 4,300 people, including minors, women, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, journalists and anti-Government protesters. Should this not be discussed in a debate on the situation in the Middle East? The Security Council must unite in establishing a maximum pressure campaign against Iran. It must prevent the regime in Tehran from continuing to develop its nuclear capabilities, obtain advanced weapons and violate human rights.For Israel and other Arab countries, this is an existential threat. One day many more countries will realize Iran threatens them too. Let us hope it is not too late. When discussing security in the Middle East, there is another Iran-related threat that is barely discussed by the Council.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  15. “Iran’s ongoing aggression threatens to take many more innocent lives — of Muslims, Jews and Christians — than it already has. Opposing Iran’s nuclear ambitions while allowing it to buy and sell other lethal weapons puts the entire region in grave danger. The fact that almost every member of the Security Council was willing to let the arms embargo expire calls into question this body’s commitment to international peace and security. The sanctions on Iran, which were reinitiated by the United States- triggered snapback, remain in full effect. We fully support the American initiatives in this regard. Iran is also one of the biggest human rights violators in the world. One example is its excessive and illegal use of executions.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  16. “In a debate entitled “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, should not a new era of peace that has a huge impact on the region be discussed? In addition to discussing opportunities for peace, the Council must also discuss the destabilizing forces in the region, namely, Iran. It is surprising, but I actually want to thank that country. Indeed, I want to thank the regime for the role it has played in bringing the moderate forces in the region closer together. Ironically, Iran’s extreme and murderous ways have contributed to the signing of these historic agreements. Nevertheless, Iran and its terrorist proxies remain the biggest threats to peace and security in the region. Its stated aim of using violence to create Shia hegemony in the region should top the agenda in all debates on the Middle East.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  17. “Actually, to be more precise, he has refused every offer that he has bothered to respond to. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is still waiting for a response to the generous offer he made in 2008. Instead, the Palestinian representative calls here for a peace conference. Do not be fooled by this; it is only another distraction. Abbas knows a conference will not bring peace. The only way to achieve real peace is through direct, bilateral negotiations. Prime Minister Netanyahu has invited President Abbas to Jerusalem many times. He has even offered to go to Ramallah, but Abbas continues to waste time calling for another useless conference. The Security Council should instead call on the Palestinians to begin negotiations based on the American Vision for Peace, which is a good starting point for realistic, sustainable peace.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  18. “Instead of viewing the accords as a new opportunity to kick-start negotiations, the Palestinians have attacked the Emiratis, the Bahrainis and the Sudanese, calling their decision to have relations with Israel a “betrayal” and a “stab in the back”. It should be clear to Foreign Minister Al-Malki that everyone can now see that the Palestinians will lash out against any country that seeks peace in the region, even its fellow members of the Arab League. The fact that the Palestinians attack those who make peace with Israel, demonstrates that, for years, the Council has been applying pressure on the wrong side. It is not surprising that the Palestinians refuse to see the agreements as an opportunity for peace. President Abbas has refused every peace offer made by the State of Israel.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  19. “I look forward to hearing Council members’ insights on this unprecedented paradigm shift and how we can build on these agreements. Perhaps we could discuss today how the Abraham accords and the new Israeli-Sudanese alliance present new opportunities for dialogue and prosperity and how these agreements will enhance cooperation in the fields of security, sustainability, technology, innovation, health and more. These accords are an important milestone that will serve to advance further S/2020/1055 agreements with other Arab and Muslim countries. They disprove preconceived notions of peacemaking in the Middle East and represent a new pragmatic approach that is not held hostage by unrealistic demands from one side. Maybe that is exactly why the Palestinian leadership opposes them.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  20. “Yet the only debate the Security Council held on the historic peace agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain was an informal one. To understand how significant these agreements are, consider that it was in Khartoum in 1967 that the Arab League adopted the Khartoum Resolution and the infamous “Three Nos”: No peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel and no negotiations with Israel. On Friday, the Sudan replaced three “no's” with three “yeses”: Yes to peace with Israel, yes to a new Middle East and yes to a brighter future for our children. Some 53 years ago, the Sudan symbolized the Arab world’s refusal to accept the Jewish State’s legitimacy. Today it symbolizes the Arab world’s growing acceptance of the Jewish State.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  21. “In a debate entitled “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,” one would expect the Council to focus on the most important issues facing the Middle East. However, once a month, for 20 years — which amounts to hundreds of debates — Council members have routinely overlooked critical issues and focused only on the “Palestinian question”. Today’s debate is a perfect example. Should we not be discussing the momentum of peace between four countries in a turbulent region? As the United Nations organ entrusted with developing friendly relations among nations, surely the Council should discuss the Abraham Accords and the most recent peace agreement between Israel and the Sudan.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  22. “In the two months since I arrived in New York, I have witnessed a jarring dissonance between what the Council chooses to focus on and what is actually happening in the Middle East. During this short period of time, I witnessed the Council ignoring opportunities to promote peace while simultaneously choosing not to act in the face of grave threats. I was told by many that the Council holds an institutional bias against Israel. Despite these criticisms, I want to keep an open mind. I want to prove wrong all those who tell me that the Security Council is a lost cause. Nevertheless, I have a few considerations I would like to pose to the Council in order to better understand its priorities in the Middle East.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  23. “It is an honour to speak before the Security Council for the first time since assuming my role as the Permanent Representative of the State of Israel to the United Nations. I come to this position after nearly two decades in the Israeli Knesset and Government. I have served on Israel’s security cabinet and in several ministerial positions dealing with such issues as counter-terrorism and the ongoing attempts to delegitimize my country. I believe that the United Nations as a whole and the Security Council in particular can be a force for good in the world, especially today, when the world is facing harrowing health and economic challenges. In my view, the Council should serve as a model for how nations can set aside their differences and unite to tackle international problems and promote peace and security.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source