Israel Is The 'Most Moral Country In The World', UN Ambassador Claims In Dramatic Goodbye Speech
Israelās ambassador to the UN claimed his state is the āmost moral country in the worldā during his departure speech on Tuesday.
Gilad Erdan was speaking at a UN Security Council meeting in New York about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, following a particularly deadly strike from Israel on a school in Gaza.
Erdan ā who announced he was stepping down months ago ā said: āI have been immensely, immensely, proud to represent my country here.
āThe most moral country in the world. The most moral country in the world!ā
At this point, he gestured to the Palestinian ambassador Riyad Mansour, saying: āYou listen, Palestinian representative?ā
Mansour gestured back at him, pointing to the rest of the room (although that was not entirely clear why).
Erdan continued: āIn this warped place, I hope one day you will also see the bias and pervasion of morality here, and I pray that you will see the truth.
āThe terrorist organisation that that guy represents here and tyrannical regimes should be condemned, not protected, and Israel should be praised.
āWe are today the vanguard of civilisation. We are the vanguard of civilisation! But until then, Am Yisrael Chai. Thank you.ā
Aim Yisrael Chai is a Hebrew phrase to convey solidarity, which translates to āthe people of Israel liveā.
He then got up and left after finishing his speech, although most delegates remained sat in the meeting.
Israelās relationship with the UN has become increasingly tense since the Hamas killed 1,200 people on Israeli soil and took approximately 250 others hostage in October.
Israel then declared war, invaded the Palestinian territory of Gaza and imposed a blockade on international aid going into the region. Around 40,000 Palestinians are estimated to have been killed since the war began.
The UNās secretary-general Antonio Guterres sparked Israeli fury after saying that Hamasā attacks ādid not happen in a vacuumā and calling for a two-state solution.
On Tuesday, delegates gathered to discuss the Israeli strikes on al-Tabeen school, the UN claims has killed dozens of Palestinians, many of whom are women and children.
Israel was criticised even by its allies such as the UK for the strike, and its ongoing efforts in the Palestinian territory.
The British representative, ambassador James Kariuki, noted there were 17 attacks on schools turned shelters in July, and that āPalestinians have nowhere safe to turnā.
He added that 86% of Gaza is now under evacuation orders, with families being forced to move back and forth with no āsafety or security they so desperately needā.
While calling for Hamas to release its remaining Israeli hostages and to stop endangering civilians, Kariuki said it is āhorrified by reports of sexual violence and abuse faced by hostages in Gaza and Palestinian prisons.ā
He said that Israeli ministers have been engaged in āunacceptable rhetoricā, and warned the state to follow international law.
Erdan announced he was stepping back in May after four years in the post and declined an offer to stay in the US as Washington ambassador, citing family considerations.
He will be replaced by Danny Danon, who claimed he will tackle the āresurgence of diplomatic terrorismā.
