View source for Gilad Erdan

{{Short description|Israeli politician and diplomat|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan 02 (cropped).jpg
| office              = 18th [[Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations]]
| term_start          = 5 July 2020
| term_end            = 10 August 2024
| president           = [[Reuven Rivlin]]<br>[[Isaac Herzog]]
| primeminister       = [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]<br>[[Naftali Bennett]]<br>[[Yair Lapid]]
| predecessor         = [[Danny Danon]]
| successor           = Danny Danon
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1970|9|30|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Ashkelon]], [[Southern District (Israel)|Southern District]], [[Israel]]
| alma_mater          = [[Bar-Ilan University]]<br>[[Tel Aviv University]]
| office1             = Ministerial roles
| suboffice1          = [[Ministry of Environmental Protection (Israel)|Minister of Environmental Protection]]
| subterm1            = 2009–2013
| suboffice2          = [[Ministry of Communications (Israel)|Minister of Communications]]
| subterm2            = 2013–2014
| suboffice3          = [[Home Front Defense Ministry|Home Front Defense Minister]]
| subterm3            = 2013–2014
| suboffice4          = [[Ministry of Interior (Israel)|Minister of Interior]]
| subterm4            = 2014–2015
| suboffice5          = [[Ministry of Public Security (Israel)|Minister of Public Security]]
| subterm5            = 2015–2020
| suboffice6          = [[Ministry of Strategic Affairs|Minister of Strategic Affairs & Public Diplomacy]]
| subterm6            = 2015–2020
| suboffice7          = [[Regional Cooperation Minister of Israel|Minister of Regional Cooperation]]
| subterm7            = 2020
| office8             = Faction represented in the [[Knesset]]
| suboffice8          = [[Likud]]
| subterm8            = 2003–2020
| native_name_lang    = he
| native_name         = {{Nobold|{{Script/Hebrew|גלעד ארדן}}}}
| caption             = Erdan in 2021
}}
'''Gilad Menashe Erdan''' ({{langx|he|{{Script/Hebrew|גלעד מנשה ארדן}}}} {{IPA|he|ɡilˈ(ʔ)ad (ʔ)eʁˈdan|}}; born 30 September 1970) is an [[Israelis|Israeli]] politician and diplomat who served as [[Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations]] from 2020 through 2024.<ref>{{Cite news|title=UN envoy Erdan becomes Israeli ambassador to the United States|url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/diplomacy-defense/1611226972-un-envoy-erdan-becomes-israeli-ambassador-to-the-united-states|work=[[i24 News]]|date=21 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Gilad Erdan Bids Farewell to United Nations, Ending Four-Year Tenure as Israeli Ambassador|url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/08/06/gilad-erdan-bids-farewell-united-nations-ending-four-year-tenure-israeli-ambassador/|work=[[The Algemeiner]]|date=6 August 2024}}</ref> 

Erdan previously served as [[List of ambassadors of Israel to the United States|Ambassador of Israel to the United States]]. He was also a member of the [[Knesset]] for [[Likud]] from 2003 to 2020, and holder of several ministerial positions, including [[Ministry of Environmental Protection (Israel)|Minister of Environmental Protection]] (2009–2013), [[Ministry of Communications (Israel)|Communications]] (2013–2014), [[Home Front Defense Ministry|Home Front Defense]] (2013–2014), [[Ministry of Interior (Israel)|Interior]] (2014–2015), [[Ministry of Public Security (Israel)|Minister of Public Security]] (2015–2020), [[Ministry of Strategic Affairs|Minister of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy]] (2015–2020) and [[Regional Cooperation Minister of Israel|Minister of Regional Cooperation]] (2020).

==Background and personal life==
Gilad Menashe Erdan was born in [[Ashkelon]]. He is of [[Romanian Jews|Romanian Jewish]] and [[Hungarian Jews|Hungarian Jewish]] descent. He attained the rank of [[Captain (OF-2)|captain]] during his [[military service]] in the [[Adjutant Corps]] of the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]]. After his military service, he studied law at [[Bar-Ilan University]], gaining an [[Bachelor of Laws|LL.B.]], and started working as an attorney. Later on, he gained a [[master's degree]] in [[political science]] from [[Tel Aviv University|Tel-Aviv University]] ([[Latin honors|cum laude]]). Erdan is married with four children, and when in Israel, he lives in [[Kiryat Ono]].

==Political career==
Erdan began his political activity in opposition to the [[Oslo Accords]], during his legal studies in the early 1990s. In these circumstances he met with then Likud MK [[Ariel Sharon]], and soon started working as Sharon's political advisor. When Likud won the [[1996 Israeli general election|elections in 1996]], Erdan was appointed as an advisor to Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] and as director of the Department for Public Inquiries to the Prime Minister's Office between 1996 and 1998. In February 1998, Erdan was elected by a vast majority as the chairman of "[[Young Likud]]", and served in this position for 6 years. During his term as Young Likud chairman, Erdan led many of the party's ideological and field activities in opposition to [[Ehud Barak]]'s 1999-2001 [[Twenty-eighth government of Israel|government]].

=== Member of Knesset ===
Erdan was first elected to the [[2003 Israeli legislative election|16th Knesset in the 2003 elections]]. During his first term in the Knesset, Erdan was one of the most outspoken opponents of the unilateral [[Israeli disengagement from Gaza|Disengagement Plan from the Gaza Strip]] led by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon from the Likud. In November 2005, Faced with harsh opposition to his plan, Sharon left Likud with several other MKs, and created a new party, [[Kadima]]. Erdan remained in Likud and after winning fourth place in the party's primaries, retained his seat in the [[2006 Israeli legislative election|17th Knesset in the 2006 elections]] despite Likud's collapse from 40 to 12 seats in the Knesset. Erdan was re-elected to the [[2009 Israeli legislative election|18th Knesset in 2009]].

Serving as Member of Knesset, Erdan has supported boosting ties between Israel and [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Christians]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=MK Erdan: Let's boost Evangelical ties|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel/mk-erdan-lets-boost-evangelical-ties|access-date=2020-06-22|website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com|date=10 May 2007 }}</ref> as well as presenting bills to enforce no-smoking laws,<ref>[https://archive.today/20120708131159/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1171894525640&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Knesset panel to discuss 'red cards' for smokers] The Jerusalem Post, 26 February 2007</ref> permanently revoking the driving licenses of serial traffic offenders,<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/772424.html MK proposes permanently revoking licenses of serial traffic offenders] Haaretz, 9 October 2006</ref> and allowing the courts to revoke citizenship for citizens visiting enemy countries or acquiring citizenship from such countries.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Disloyalty-bill-passes-first-hurdle 'Disloyalty' bill passes first hurdle] ''The Jerusalem Post'', 10 January 2007</ref> The latter bill was submitted following [[Arab citizens of Israel|Israeli Arab]] MK [[Azmi Bishara]]'s visit to [[Syria]], an enemy-state to the state of Israel.

=== In the 32nd government ===
After the [[2009 Israeli legislative election|2009 elections]] to the Knesset, Erdan was appointed [[Ministry of Environmental Protection (Israel)|Minister of Environmental Protection]], and the Minister in charge of coordinating between the Government and the Knesset in the [[Thirty-second government of Israel|32nd Government]].<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1075341.html Netanyahu sworn in as Israel's prime minister] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102083155/http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1075341.html |date=2 January 2010 }} Haaretz, 1 April 2009.</ref> Upon the government taking office, he expressed support for [[Avigdor Lieberman]]'s speech opposing the [[Annapolis Conference]] and international pressure. He commented that "Israel does not take orders from Obama" and that "citizens of Israel have decided that they will not become the fifty first US state".<ref name="hindu">[http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200904070942.htm 'Israel does not take orders from Obama'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410085858/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200904070942.htm |date=10 April 2009 }}. ''[[The Hindu]]''. Published 7 April 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/130789 'Erdan: We're Not the 51st State']. ''[[Israel National News]]''. Published 6 April 2009.</ref>

As Minister of Environmental Protection, Erdan introduced the most comprehensive River Restoration program to date,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sviva.gov.il/English/ResourcesandServices/NewsAndEvents/NewsAndMessageDover/Pages/2012/12_December_2012/NIS8mForRiverRestorationProjects.aspx|title=המשרד להגנת הסביבה|access-date=2020-06-22|website=www.sviva.gov.il}}</ref> legislated and enforced the protection of beaches and the coastline,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cabinet Approves Network of Parks on the Coastal Escarpment|url=https://www.gov.il/en/departments/news/spokematsok030411|access-date=2020-06-22|website=GOV.IL|language=en}}</ref> increased recycling through a bottling and packaging law,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bottle Deposit Law revisions approved for second and third readings|url=https://www.jpost.com/health-and-sci-tech/bottle-deposit-law-revisions-approved-for-second-and-third-readings|access-date=2020-06-22|website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com|date=27 December 2009 }}</ref> and created the Beer Sheva River Park – an ecological park built on a former garbage dump – where thousands of people enjoy bike paths, walking trails, a lake, sports area, and a botanical garden.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kkl-jnf.org/about-kkl-jnf/green-israel-news/february-2012/tu-bishvat-in-beersheba-river-park/|access-date=2020-06-22|website=www.kkl-jnf.org|title=Tu BiShvat in Beersheba River Park}}</ref> He initiated a "pollution has no borders" policy which included reducing Israel's Greenhouse Gas Emissions, increasing water desalination, in an effort to make Israel the world leader in water recycling.<ref>{{Cite web|title=StackPath|url=https://www.waterworld.com/home/article/14070284/minister-erdan-nearly-90-of-israels-waste-water-is-now-recycled-4-times-higher-than-any-other-country-in-the-world|access-date=2020-06-22|website=www.waterworld.com|date=December 2016 }}</ref> He also imposed limitations on the import and export of living monkeys for medical purposes, resulting in the closure of the "Mazor Farm", a disputed monkey-breeding farm.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2013-05-01|title=Mazor monkey farm activity to be limited|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4328760,00.html|access-date=2020-06-22|website=Ynetnews|language=en}}</ref>

In May 2009, Erdan was declared "man of the decade" by [[Or Yarok]], a prominent road safety NGO in Israel, for his lasting efforts to reduce traffic accidents and fatalities.

=== In the 33rd government ===
[[File:ErdanSurveyingtoPM.jpg|alt=Erdan surveying the readiness of emergency services for stormy weather, with Prime-Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Police Commissioner Moti Cohen and Fire & Rescue Commissioner Dedi Simhi.|thumb|251x251px|Erdan surveying the readiness of emergency services for stormy weather, with Prime-Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], [[Israel Police|Police]] Commissioner Moti Cohen and [[Israel Fire and Rescue Services|Fire & Rescue]] Commissioner Dedi Simhi.]]
[[File:ErdandebriefedbyChiefCommissioner.jpg|alt=Erdan visiting a police control center during the 2019 Pride Parade in Jerusalem, with Police Commissioner Moti Cohen and commander of the Jerusalem district, Doron Yadid.|thumb|250x250px|Erdan visiting a police control center during the 2019 [[Pride parade|Pride Parade]] in [[Jerusalem]], with Police Commissioner Moti Cohen and commander of the Jerusalem district, Doron Yadid.]]
[[File:Secretary Pompeo Meets With Israeli Permanent Representative to the United Nations Gilad Erdan (50251597066).jpg|thumb|250x250px|US secretary of state [[Mike Pompeo]] and US ambassador to the United Nations [[Kelly Craft]] meet with Gilad Erdan, August 2020]]
Following the [[2013 Israeli legislative election|2013 elections]] to the Knesset, Erdan was appointed the [[Ministry of Communications (Israel)|minister of communications]] and [[Ministry of Home Front Defense|minister of home front defense]] in the [[Thirty-third government of Israel|33rd Government]]. He was also appointed as a member of the [[Security Cabinet of Israel|Security Cabinet]]. On 22 April 2014, after several ongoing disputes with the defense minister, Moshe (Bogi) Yaalon, on matters of authority, Erdan announced his resignation as the minister of home front defense, and called the prime-minister to dissolve the ministry entirely.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Erdan quits home front defense, urges Netanyahu to dissolve ministry|url=https://www.jpost.com/defense/homefront-defense-minister-erdan-resigns-just-hours-after-his-director-general-350110|access-date=2020-06-21|website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com|date=22 April 2014 }}</ref> The ministry was shut down subsequently.

In November 2014, Erdan was appointed [[Ministry of Interior (Israel)|minister of interior]] following [[Gideon Sa'ar]]'s resignation.

=== In the 34th government ===
On 24 May 2015, Prime Minister Netanyahu appointed Erdan as Minister of Public Security, Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy in the [[Thirty-fourth government of Israel|34th Government]]. Erdan was again appointed as a member of the Security Cabinet. Erdan's appointment came eleven days after he initially refused to join Netanyahu's cabinet, claiming he wasn't offered enough tools to make a real change as a Minister.<ref name="Real Change">{{cite web |title=Erdan stayed out of gov't because he wasn't offered tools for 'real change' |last=Beck |first=Jonathan |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/erdan-pms-ministerial-offer-insufficient-for-real-change/ |publisher=The Times of Israel |date=2015-05-15 |access-date=2015-05-26}}</ref><ref name="Israel's Answer">{{cite web |title=Israel's answer to the BDS movement - Gilad Erdan |last=Hofmann |first=Gil |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Israels-answer-to-the-BDS-movement-Gilad-Erdan-404038 |work=The Jerusalem Post|date=2015-05-25 |access-date=2015-05-26}}</ref>

As the Minister of Public Security, Erdan was in charge of the [[Israel Police|National Police]], [[Israel Prison Service|Prison Service]] and the [[Israel Fire and Rescue Services|Fire & Rescue Services]]. As Minister of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy, Erdan received the responsibility to coordinate the national response to the attempts to [[Delegitimization of Israel|delegitimize the State of Israel]], and spearhead the fight against the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] campaign against Israel.

Upon entering his role, the state of Israel started facing a new wave of [[Palestinian political violence|Palestinian terror]] attacks, carried out mainly by incited individuals,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/Terrorism/Palestinian/Pages/Wave-of-terror-October-2015.aspx|access-date=2020-07-12|website=mfa.gov.il}}</ref> and commonly referred to as the "[[2015–2016 wave of violence in Israeli–Palestinian conflict|Knife Intifada]]". Erdan's plan to deal with this new wave of terror, consisted of several steps: strengthening police presence in Jerusalem, which became a symbol for terrorists; outlawing Muslim organizations who incited against Jews and harassed them on the Temple Mount;<ref>{{Cite news|title=Minister seeks to outlaw two Islamic groups active on Temple Mount|url=https://www.haaretz.com/.premium-minister-vs-temple-mount-islamists-1.5390854|access-date=2020-07-12|website=Haaretz|language=en}}</ref> and dealing with online incitement. In addition, Erdan initiated the construction and opening of new police stations in East Jerusalem, signaling to the residents of its neighborhoods that the state of Israel will not give up its sovereignty in these areas.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Security revolution in East Jerusalem: Israel opens community police station in tense Palestinian neighborhood|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-a-quiet-policing-revolution-is-taking-place-in-east-jerusalem-1.8402083|access-date=2020-07-12|website=Haaretz|language=en}}</ref>

In his attempts to deal with online incitement against Israelis and Jews by Palestinians, which often could lead to terror attacks, Erdan and his colleague, [[Israeli Ministry of Justice|Minister of Justice]] [[Ayelet Shaked]], proposed the so-called [[Facebook]] bill that will enable Israeli courts to issue [[decree]]s against social media companies like Facebook, [[Google]] or [[Twitter]] to remove public content deemed to be a threat to [[national security]], public security, or a violation of the law, in case the social media company failed to detect and remove the content on its own. The bill has been criticized for allegedly limiting free speech online.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goichman|first1=Rafaela|date=27 December 2016|title=Will Israeli Internet Censorship Law Prevent the Next Terror Attack?|work=Haaretz|url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.761370|access-date=30 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Lis|first1=Jonathan|date=30 December 2016|title=Minister back bill that would allow court to censor Internet|work=Haaretz|url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.761278|access-date=25 December 2016}}</ref> However, following the submission of the bill, a senior delegation from Facebook arrived in Israel to meet with Erdan, agreeing to work together in order to improve the detection and removal of inciting material online.<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=2016-09-12|title=Facebook and Israel to work to monitor posts that incite violence|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/12/facebook-israel-monitor-posts-incite-violence-social-media|access-date=2020-06-28|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

in 2018, Erdan initiated new legislation intended to partially [[Decriminalization|de-criminalize]] the use of [[Cannabis (drug)|Cannabis]] for recreational purposes. The reform, which was recommended by a professional committee appointed by Erdan, was called "Responsible Decriminalization", since it didn't go all the way to legalize Cannabis, but instead made private recreational use punishable by fines.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wootliff|first=Raoul|title=Marijuana on way to being decriminalized after minister backs move|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-move-ahead-with-decriminalizing-marijuana/|access-date=2020-06-22|website=Times of Israel|language=en-US}}</ref> The rationale for this move, explained Erdan, was to prevent unnecessary arrests and criminal records on one hand, while retaining deterrence from usage of Cannabis in the public sphere. "The current policy has failed and has not caused a decrease in the use of drugs. Cannabis is a dangerous drug, and there has been a significant increase in its use. ... But the right way to operate is via the path of education, prevention and rehabilitation rather than criminal enforcement against regular citizens."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Erdan: Criminalizing weed has failed|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/erdan-criminalizing-weed-has-failed-560510|access-date=2020-06-22|website=The Jerusalem Post|date=21 June 2018 }}</ref>

Minister Erdan also established The Child Online Protection Bureau which created a hotline (#105) and intelligence agency to protect children and teens online.<ref>{{Cite web|title=For World Children's Day, ministry unveils bureau to protect kids online|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/for-world-childrens-day-ministry-unveils-bureau-to-protect-kids-online-572316|access-date=2020-06-22|website=The Jerusalem Post|date=20 November 2018 }}</ref> The first of its kind in the world, 105 hotline brought together an interdisciplinary team of experts from the Police, Justice Department, Welfare and Education Ministries. They have been able to successfully identify and prosecute predators, stop bullying, shaming, and online violence.

=== Permanent Representative to the UN===
[[File:Secretary Blinken visit May 2021 (51204342138).jpg|thumb|Erdan with Israeli prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] and U.S. Secretary of State [[Antony Blinken]] in Jerusalem on 24 May 2021]]
[[File:Isaac Herzog in Beit HaNassi, November 2021 (SA 1).jpg|thumb|Erdan with Israeli president [[Isaac Herzog]] and U.S. Ambassador to the UN [[Linda Thomas-Greenfield]] in Jerusalem, 15 November 2021]]
On 11 May 2020, following the [[2020 Israeli legislative election|2020 elections to the Knesset]], Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that Erdan would become Israel's next [[Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations|Ambassador to the UN]] and also become Israel's [[List of ambassadors to the United States|Ambassador to the United States]] after the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]].<ref name="Ravid">{{cite news |last1=Ravid |first1=Barak |title=New Israeli ambassador to serve dual role at UN and in Washington |url=https://www.axios.com/new-israeli-ambassador-un-gilad-erdan-0678a532-21ba-49a4-af94-e25048b9d71a.html |access-date=7 June 2020 |publisher=Axios |date=11 May 2020}}</ref> The last person to hold those two positions concurrently was the diplomat and politician, [[Abba Eban]], in the 1950s.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |last1=Halbfinger |first1=David M. |title=Abba Eban Was the Last to Hold These Two Israeli Posts at Once. Next: Gilad Erdan. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/11/world/middleeast/israel-ambassador-gilad-erdan.html |access-date=7 June 2020 |work=The New York Times|date=11 May 2020}}</ref>

On 17 May 2020, Erdan was sworn in as [[Regional Cooperation Minister of Israel]] in the [[Thirty-fifth government of Israel|35th Government]].<ref name="newministry">{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/.premium-israel-s-biggest-government-set-to-be-sworn-in-this-is-what-it-would-look-like-1.8845810|title=After year of deadlock and days of delays, Knesset swears in new Israeli government|website=Haaretz}}</ref> However, his appointment was short-lived, as he was made [[Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations]] and the [[List of ambassadors of Israel to the United States|Israeli ambassador to the United States]].<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/.premium-gilad-erdan-to-serve-as-u-s-un-ambassador-1.8838546 Netanyahu Appoints Likud Minister Gilad Erdan as Israel's Ambassador to Both U.S., UN] ''Haaretz'', 5 July 2020</ref> The following year, he stepped down as ambassador to the U.S. and was replaced by [[Michael Herzog (ambassador)|Mike Herzog]], who succeeded him on 15 November 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Magid|first=Jacob|date=16 November 2021|title=New Israeli ambassador to US Mike Herzog pledges to keep Israel a nonpartisan issue|work=[[The Times of Israel]]|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-israeli-ambassador-to-us-mike-herzog-pledges-to-keep-israel-a-nonpartisan-issue/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116025909/https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-israeli-ambassador-to-us-mike-herzog-pledges-to-keep-israel-a-nonpartisan-issue/|archive-date=16 November 2021}}</ref>

On 7 June 2022, Erdan was elected to serve as one of the vice-presidents of the General Assembly for its [[Seventy-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly|seventy-seventh session]] as a representative of the [[Western European and Others Group|Western states]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Horovitz|first=Michael|date=7 June 2022|title=Erdan, 20 other UN envoys elected vice presidents of General Assembly|work=[[The Times of Israel]]|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/erdan-20-others-elected-vice-presidents-of-un-general-assembly/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607221344/https://www.timesofisrael.com/erdan-20-others-elected-vice-presidents-of-un-general-assembly/|archive-date=7 June 2022}}</ref>

On 31 October 2023, Erdan, as well as other Israeli delegates, began wearing [[Yellow badge|yellow star badges]] with the words "[[Never again|Never Again]]" written on them, in response to international criticism of Israel's conduct during the [[Gaza war]]. Erdan claimed that the [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] was "silent" about the [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel|Hamas-led attack on Israel]], and said that he would wear the star "as a symbol of pride".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-31 |title=Israel's UN delegates criticised for wearing yellow stars as 'symbol of pride' |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/israels-un-delegates-criticised-wearing-yellow-stars-symbol-pride-2023-10-31/ |access-date=2023-11-26}}</ref> This action was immediately condemned by [[Yad Vashem]] chairman [[Dani Dayan]], who called it a "[disgrace to] the victims of the [[Holocaust]] as well as the state of Israel," while adding "The slaughter of Jews by Hamas on October 7th was genocidal in its intents and immeasurably brutal in its form. Part of why it differs from the Holocaust is because Jews have today a state and an army. We are not defenseless and at the mercy of others."<ref>{{Cite web |title=i24NEWS |url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/diplomacy/1698236015-yad-vashem-israeli-officials-react-harshly-to-un-chief-remarks-on-oct-7-massacre |date=2023-10-25 |website=www.i24news.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-31 |title=Israel envoy wears yellow star at UN, drawing Yad Vashem criticism |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231031-israel-envoy-wears-yellow-star-at-un |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=France 24 |language=en |agency=AFP}}</ref> According to [[Ynet]], unnamed officials from Israel's [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] were also highly critical of the decision, with one calling it a "cheap gimmick that doesn't serve our goal", and others describing it as an attempt to appeal to [[Likud]] party members.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Magid |first=Jacob |others=AFP |title=Erdan tells UN he'll don yellow Star of David until it condemns Hamas; Yad Vashem fumes |work=The Times of Israel |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/erdan-tells-security-council-hell-don-yellow-star-of-david-until-it-condemns-hamas/}}</ref>

On 8 December 2023, Erdan thanked the United States for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the [[Gaza Strip]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel-Hamas war: US vetoes UN resolution calling for Gaza ceasefire |url=https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-12-09-23#h_8681ecaeef56d0bc9b232c629391fb1d |work=CNN |date=9 December 2023}}</ref> He also thanked US president [[Joe Biden]] for "standing steadfastly" with Israel.<ref>{{cite news |title=US vetoes UN Security Council resolution demanding immediate ceasefire in Gaza Strip |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-vetoes-un-security-council-resolution-demanding-immediate-gaza-ceasefire/ |work=The Times of Israel |date=9 December 2023}}</ref>

In December 2023, Erdan accused American investor and philanthropist [[George Soros]] of supporting pro-Palestinian organizations "that seek the destruction of the State of Israel as a Jewish state".<ref>{{cite news |title=Soros donations to anti-Israel groups unsurprising and 'shameful,' says Erdan |url=https://www.jns.org/soros-donations-to-anti-israel-groups-unsurprising-and-shameful-says-erdan/ |work=Jewish News Syndicate |date=December 4, 2023}}</ref>

On May 10, 2024, the UN General Assembly voted to advance Palestinian membership in the UN. According to Erdan, that was a disregard for the UN charter. Before the vote he illustrated this by running a copy of the UN charter through a paper shredder while giving a speech for the UN General Assembly, referring to the [[Holocaust]], [[World War II]], and [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]. Yet the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of asking the Security Council to accept Palestine as a full member.<ref>{{cite news |title=Furious Israel ambassador shreds UN charter before vote on Palestine membership |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2024/05/10/netanyahu-israel-biden-arms-warning-hamas-cease-fire-talks/73638316007/ |work=The Times of Israel |date=10 May 2024}}</ref>

On June 8, 2024, the UN placed Israel on a blacklist for "parties engaging in violations against children". Erdan leaked Spokesman [[Stéphane Dujarric]]'s video message notifiying him of the decision, which he decried as "simply outrageous and wrong".<ref>{{cite news |author1=<!--not stated--> |title=UN spokesman blasts Erdan for 'shocking' decision to release video of call informing him Israel on 'list of shame' |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/un-spokesman-blasts-erdan-for-shocking-decision-to-release-video-of-call-informing-him-israel-on-list-of-shame/ |access-date=June 8, 2024 |date=June 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=UN will describe Israel and Hamas as violating children's rights in armed conflict |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/07/un-israel-hamas-war-childrens-rights-00162370 |access-date=June 8, 2024 |work=[[Politico]] |date=June 7, 2024}}</ref> Erdan stated that "[Israel's] army is the most moral in the world" and accused Secretary-General [[António Guterres]] of being a terrorist ally with a hatred against Israel.<ref>{{cite news |author=Al Jazeera staff |title=UN adding Israel to 'blacklist' of countries harming children in conflict |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/7/un-adding-israel-to-blacklist-of-countries-harming-children-in-conflict |access-date=8 June 2024 |work=[[Al Jazeera]] |date=7 June 2024}}</ref>

In August 2024, Erdan was replaced as UN Ambassador by his predecessor [[Danny Danon]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/diplomacy/artc-danny-danon-returns-to-un-as-israel-s-ambassador | title=Danny Danon returns to UN as Israel's ambassador | date=19 August 2024 }}</ref>

==Public activities==
Outside the Knesset, Erdan was elected in 2005 as chairman of ''Al Sam'', a [[Non-governmental organization|non-governmental]] [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit]] organization dealing with drug issues of youths (he also served on the Knesset's Committee on Drug Abuse), and also established the ''Lobby for Soldiers Missing in Action''. Erdan was also a member of the [[Israel Broadcasting Authority]]'s General Assembly.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
*{{MKlink|id=734}} (in Hebrew. As of Feb 2024, Erdan not included)

{{Israeli ambassadors to the United States}}
{{Permanent Representatives of Israel to the United Nations}}
{{Israeli Ministers of Interior}}
{{Israeli Communications Ministers}}
{{Israeli Environment Ministers}}
{{Israeli Internal Security Ministers}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Erdan, Gilad}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Bar-Ilan University alumni]]
[[Category:Israeli people of Hungarian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Israeli people of Romanian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Likud politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the 16th Knesset (2003–2006)]]
[[Category:Members of the 17th Knesset (2006–2009)]]
[[Category:Members of the 18th Knesset (2009–2013)]]
[[Category:Members of the 19th Knesset (2013–2015)]]
[[Category:Members of the 20th Knesset (2015–2019)]]
[[Category:Members of the 21st Knesset (2019)]]
[[Category:Members of the 22nd Knesset (2019–2020)]]
[[Category:Ministers of environment of Israel]]
[[Category:Ministers of internal affairs of Israel]]
[[Category:Ministers of public security of Israel]]
[[Category:People from Ashkelon]]
[[Category:Tel Aviv University alumni]]
[[Category:Members of the 23rd Knesset (2020–2021)]]
[[Category:Permanent representatives of Israel to the United Nations]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of Israel to the United States]]
[[Category:Ministers of communications of Israel]]