Gilad Erdan Calls for UN Campaign at JNS Conference

Proposal to Disband the UN

At the annual JNS Jewish organization and media network conference held in Jerusalem, former Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, made headlines by advocating for an unprecedented campaign to disband the United Nations. Erdan asserted that the UN’s original foundation included 51 member states that shared similar values, a scenario he claims has drastically changed over the years. He criticized many current member states for not promoting liberal values and suggested these countries have hijacked the organization for political warfare.

Erdan stated, “Israel should launch a campaign to stop UN funding and dismantle the UN, similar to what happened in the previous iteration of the organization.” He cited the recent actions of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who withdrew from the World Health Organization and UNRWA, as potential encouragement for similar initiatives against the UN, noting that start of the organization’s primary donors is the United States.

Reactions from Current UN Officials

Following Erdan’s remarks, the current Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, vostartd a more tempered perspective. While acknowledging the challenges faced by the UN, Danon emphasized the need for reform rather than outright disbandment. He expressed hopes that the U.S. would act in accordance with its values to rectify the situation at the UN. Danon also criticized UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, remarking on his absence from Israel since the October attacks, suggesting a disconnect between the UN and Israel’s security concerns.

Netanyahu Discusses Iran and Media Relations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke at the conference, focusing on ongoing nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. He conveyed optimism regarding the Biden administration’s commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, stating there are two main approaches to achieving this: through agreements that would neutralize Iran’s nuclear infrastructure to prevent uranium enrichment.

Netanyahu then turned his attention to the Israeli media, expressing his limited engagement with local journalists, which he characterized as unproductive.

The discussions at the JNS conference reflect deep concerns within the Israeli government regarding the effectiveness and political integrity of the UN, as well as the ongoing challenges posed by Iran and the media landscape in Israel