From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Erdan reads names of fallen to UN Security Council to protest Memorial Day session
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLuke Tress is The Times of Israel's New York correspondent.
Israel’s envoy to the UN walks out of the UN Security Council to protest it holding a session critical of Israel on Memorial Day.
The periodic Security Council session on “the Palestinian question” is held at UN headquarters in New York and led by Russia.
“Today is one of the most sacred days of the year for the State of Israel,” Israeli envoy Gilad Erdan says. “We made numerous requests to reschedule today’s debate, describing the deep importance of the day, yet tragically this council refused to budge.”
The Israeli ambassador to the UN @giladerdan1 walked out of the Security Council meeting on Israel-Palestine to protest it was scheduled on Israel's Memorial Day. Watch here: pic.twitter.com/MR1AnULxH2
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) April 25, 2023
“Today’s debate has crossed all lines,” he says. “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.”
Erdan reads out to the council the names of Israelis killed in the line of service, or in terror attacks, in the past year, and places a memorial candle on the table in front of him.
He walks out of the chamber with the rest of the Israeli delegation.“I refuse to spend this sacred day listening to lies and condemnation. This debate disgraces the fallen and Israel will not take part in it,” he says.
The Times of Israel Community.