Gilad Erdan
18th Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations
Assumed office
5 July 2020
PresidentReuven Rivlin
Isaac Herzog
Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu
Naftali Bennett
Yair Lapid
Preceded byDanny Danon
Ministerial roles
2009–2013Minister of Environmental Protection
2013–2014Minister of Communications
2013–2014Home Front Defense Minister
2014–2015Minister of Interior
2015–2020Minister of Public Security
2015–2020Minister of Strategic Affairs & Public Diplomacy
2020Minister of Regional Cooperation
Faction represented in the Knesset
2003–2020Likud
Personal details
Born (1970-09-30) 30 September 1970
Ashkelon, Israel
Alma materBar-Ilan University
Tel Aviv University

Gilad Menashe Erdan (Hebrew: גִּלְעָד מְנַשֶּׁה אֶרְדָן, IPA: [ɡilˈ(ʔ)ad (ʔ)eʁˈdan]; born 30 September 1970) is an Israeli politician and diplomat serving as Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations since 2020.[1]

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

Background and personal life

Gilad Menashe Erdan was born in Ashkelon. He is of Romanian Jewish and Hungarian Jewish descent. He attained the rank of captain during his military service in the Adjutant Corps of the IDF. After his military service, he studied law at Bar-Ilan University, gaining an LL.B., and started working as an attorney. Later on, he gained a master's degree in political science from Tel-Aviv University (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 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 government.

Member of Knesset

Erdan was first elected to the 16th Knesset in the 2003 elections. During his first term in the Knesset, Erdan was one of the most outspoken opponents of the unilateral Disengagement Plan from the Gaza Strip lead 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 17th Knesset in the 2006 elections despite Likud's collapse from 40 to 12 seats in the Knesset. Erdan was re-elected to the 18th Knesset in 2009.

Serving as Member of Knesset, Erdan has supported boosting ties between Israel and Evangelical Christians,[2] as well as presenting bills to enforce no-smoking laws,[3] permanently revoking the driving licenses of serial traffic offenders,[4] and allowing the courts to revoke citizenship for citizens visiting enemy countries or acquiring citizenship from such countries.[5] The latter bill was submitted following Israeli Arab MK Azmi Bishara's visit to Syria, an enemy-state to the state of Israel.

In the 32nd Government

After the 2009 elections to the Knesset, Erdan was appointed Minister of Environmental Protection, and the Minister in charge of coordinating between the Government and the Knesset in the 32nd Government.[6] 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".[7][8]

As Minister of Environmental Protection, Erdan introduced the most comprehensive River Restoration program to date,[9] legislated and enforced the protection of beaches and the coastline,[10] increased recycling through a bottling and packaging law,[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft meet with Gilad Erdan, August 2020

Following the 2013 elections to the Knesset, Erdan was appointed the Minister of Communications and Minister of Home Front Defense in the 33rd Government. He was also appointed as a member of the 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.[15] The ministry was shut down subsequently.

In November 2014, Erdan was appointed 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 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.[16][17]

As the Minister of Public Security, Erdan was in charge of the National Police, Prison Service and the Fire & Rescue Services. As Minister of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy, Erdan received the responsibility to coordinate the national response to the attempts to 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 terror attacks, carried out mainly by incited individuals,[18] and commonly referred to as the "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;[19] 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.[20]

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, Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked, proposed the so-called Facebook bill that will enable Israeli courts to issue decrees 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.[21][22] 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.[23]

in 2018, Erdan initiated new legislation intended to partially de-criminalize the use of 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.[24] 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."[25]

Minister Erdan also established The Child Online Protection Bureau which created a hotline (#105) and intelligence agency to protect children and teens online.[26] 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

Erdan with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jerusalem on 24 May 2021
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 elections to the Knesset, Prime-Minister Netanyahu announced that Erdan would become Israel's next Ambassador to the UN and also become Israel's Ambassador to the United States after the 2020 presidential election.[27] The last person to hold those two positions concurrently was the diplomat and politician, Abba Eban, in the 1950s.[28]

On 17 May 2020, Erdan was sworn in as Regional Cooperation Minister of Israel in the 35th Government.[29] However, his appointment was short-lived, as he was made Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations and the Israeli ambassador to the United States.[30] The following year, he stepped down as ambassador to the U.S. and was replaced by Mike Herzog, who succeeded him on 15 November 2021.[31]

On June 7, 2022, Erdan was elected as Vice President of the General Assembly as the representative of the Western states.[32]

On 31 October 2023, Erdan, as well as other Israeli delegates, began wearing yellow star badges with the words "Never Again" written on them, in protest to criticism of Israel's conduct during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. Erdan claimed that the UN Security Council was "silent" about the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel, and said that he would wear the star "as a symbol of pride".[33] However, this decision was immediately condemned by Yad Vashem chairman Dani Dayan, calling it a "[disgrace to] the victims of the Holocaust as well as the state of Israel".[34] According to Ynet, unnamed officials from Israel's 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.[35]

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.[36] He also thanked US President Joe Biden for "standing steadfastly" with Israel.[37]

Criticism

Erdan was criticized by Senior Foreign Ministry officials for wearing a yellow star during a UN Security Council meeting. Yad Vashem chairman called Erdan's act a "disgrace to both Holocaust victims and Israel":[38]

"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,” Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan said in a statement.[39]

Public activities

Outside the Knesset, Erdan was elected in 2005 as chairman of Al Sam, a non-governmental 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

  1. ↑ "UN envoy Erdan becomes Israeli ambassador to the United States". i24 News. 21 January 2021.
  2. ↑ "MK Erdan: Let's boost Evangelical ties". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 10 May 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  3. ↑ Knesset panel to discuss 'red cards' for smokers The Jerusalem Post, 26 February 2007
  4. ↑ MK proposes permanently revoking licenses of serial traffic offenders Haaretz, 9 October 2006
  5. ↑ 'Disloyalty' bill passes first hurdle The Jerusalem Post, 10 January 2007
  6. ↑ Netanyahu sworn in as Israel's prime minister Archived 2 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine Haaretz, 1 April 2009.
  7. ↑ 'Israel does not take orders from Obama' Archived 10 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine. The Hindu. Published 7 April 2009.
  8. ↑ 'Erdan: We're Not the 51st State'. Israel National News. Published 6 April 2009.
  9. ↑ "המשרד להגנת הסביבה". www.sviva.gov.il. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "Cabinet Approves Network of Parks on the Coastal Escarpment". GOV.IL. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  11. ↑ "Bottle Deposit Law revisions approved for second and third readings". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 27 December 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  12. ↑ "Tu BiShvat in Beersheba River Park". www.kkl-jnf.org. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  13. ↑ "StackPath". www.waterworld.com. December 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "Mazor monkey farm activity to be limited". Ynetnews. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  15. ↑ "Erdan quits home front defense, urges Netanyahu to dissolve ministry". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  16. ↑ Beck, Jonathan (15 May 2015). "Erdan stayed out of gov't because he wasn't offered tools for 'real change'". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  17. ↑ Hofmann, Gil (25 May 2015). "Israel's answer to the BDS movement - Gilad Erdan". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  18. ↑ mfa.gov.il https://mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/Terrorism/Palestinian/Pages/Wave-of-terror-October-2015.aspx. Retrieved 12 July 2020. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ↑ "Minister seeks to outlaw two Islamic groups active on Temple Mount". Haaretz. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  20. ↑ "Security revolution in East Jerusalem: Israel opens community police station in tense Palestinian neighborhood". Haaretz. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  21. ↑ Goichman, Rafaela (27 December 2016). "Will Israeli Internet Censorship Law Prevent the Next Terror Attack?". Haaretz. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  22. ↑ Lis, Jonathan (30 December 2016). "Minister back bill that would allow court to censor Internet". Haaretz. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  23. ↑ "Facebook and Israel to work to monitor posts that incite violence". The Guardian. Associated Press. 12 September 2016. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  24. ↑ Wootliff, Raoul. "Marijuana on way to being decriminalized after minister backs move". Times of Israel. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  25. ↑ "Erdan: Criminalizing weed has failed". The Jerusalem Post. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  26. ↑ "For World Children's Day, ministry unveils bureau to protect kids online". The Jerusalem Post. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  27. ↑ Ravid, Barak (11 May 2020). "New Israeli ambassador to serve dual role at UN and in Washington". Axios. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  28. ↑ Halbfinger, David M. (11 May 2020). "Abba Eban Was the Last to Hold These Two Israeli Posts at Once. Next: Gilad Erdan". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  29. ↑ "After year of deadlock and days of delays, Knesset swears in new Israeli government". Haaretz.
  30. ↑ Netanyahu Appoints Likud Minister Gilad Erdan as Israel's Ambassador to Both U.S., UN Haaretz, 5 July 2020
  31. ↑ Magid, Jacob (16 November 2021). "New Israeli ambassador to US Mike Herzog pledges to keep Israel a nonpartisan issue". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021.
  32. ↑ Horovitz, Michael (7 June 2022). "Erdan, 20 other UN envoys elected vice presidents of General Assembly". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 7 June 2022.
  33. ↑ "Israel's UN delegates criticised for wearing yellow stars as 'symbol of pride'". Reuters. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  34. ↑ "Israel envoy wears yellow star at UN, drawing Yad Vashem criticism". France 24. AFP. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  35. ↑ Magid, Jacob. "Erdan tells UN he'll don yellow Star of David until it condemns Hamas; Yad Vashem fumes". The Times of Israel. AFP.
  36. ↑ "Israel-Hamas war: US vetoes UN resolution calling for Gaza ceasefire". CNN. 9 December 2023.
  37. ↑ "US vetoes UN Security Council resolution demanding immediate ceasefire in Gaza Strip". The Times of Israel. 9 December 2023.
  38. ↑ "Senior Foreign Ministry Officials Slam Israel's UN Envoy for Donning Yellow Star". Haaretz. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  39. ↑ "i24NEWS". www.i24news.tv. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
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