Israeli UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan was on Tuesday elected as the Vice President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Erdan said in a statement that the new role would provide a valuable platform for Israel in the face of “the ongoing lies of Palestinians and others at the United Nations”.
Erdan will serve in a year-round role starting in September when the Assembly convenes for its annual session. He will be one of the 21 vice-presidents during the annual session.
As Vice President, Erdan will preside over the meetings of the General Assembly and will also be partly involved in setting the agenda for the meetings.
“This victory sends a clear message to our enemies that they will not prevent us from participating in leading roles in the United Nations and in the international arena. Hate should never triumph over truth. I will not allow that,” he said.
After being blocked from leading roles by unfriendly states for decades, Israel has sought to expand its role and influence in the United Nations. In January, Erdan released a . led successful Resolution in the General Assembly to counter Holocaust denial.
In several recent first phases, Israel was Selected To serve on the United Nations Economic Council in 2021, and Odelia Fitousi becomes Israel’s first Representative of the Committee of Experts on Disabilities in 2020.
Erdan’s appointment as Vice President was not the first time for an Israeli envoy. His predecessor, Danny Dannon, was elected as one of the Deputy Speakers of the 72nd session of the Assembly in 2017.
Iran and Syria objected to Erdan’s campaign but stopped seeking votes for fear of a lack of support for the measure.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett addresses the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters on Monday, September 27, 2021. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, Poole)
The election comes amid recent negative attention to Israel over a rise in violence in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Israel faced international outrage after Palestinians accused the IDF of the May 11 killing of Palestinian journalist Shirin Abu Aqleh while covering clashes in the West Bank city of Jenin.
Israel says it is possible she may have come under IDF fire, but cannot conclude, while the Palestinian Authority refused to cooperate with the investigation and overturned the bullet that hit her.
Jacob Magid contributed to this report.
