Israeli envoy slams UN reviewing Palestinian Authority membership bid as ‘immoral’

Israel’s UN envoy Gilad Erdan slams the fact that the United Nations Security Council is even considering granting full membership to the Palestinian Authority as “immoral.”

“Membership in the United Nations is open to all peace-loving states. Peace-loving — what a joke,” Erdan says ahead of the vote set to take place at 5:00 p.m. (2100 GMT), according to Malta, which holds the council’s rotating presidency.

Erdan charges that granting full member status to the PA would “reward the supporters and perpetrators” of Hamas’s October 7 massacre in southern Israel, which saw some 3,000 terrorists burst across the border into Israel by land, air and sea, killing some 1,200 people and seizing 253 hostages, mostly civilians, many amid acts of brutality and sexual assault.

“The child murderers and rapists of Hamas,” he says, “are watching this meeting and they are smiling.”

“How many times has this council met to discuss ways to advance the release of our hostages held in Gaza? How many times? Not even once,” Erdan asks during the Security Council session.

“How many condemnations has this council issued against Hamas for their heinous October 7 massacre? Zero.”

“How detached from reality can this council be to dedicate its time and resources to support a resolution so disconnected to the reality on the ground. To a resolution that will have zero positive impact for any party. That will cause only destruction for years to come and harm any chance for future dialogue,” he says.

The United States is expected to veto the membership bid.

AFP contributed to this report.