Israel-Linked Campaign Pushes US to Abandon the United Nations
A growing campaign backed by Israeli political figures and right-wing organisations is seeking to persuade Washington to distance itself from the United Nations and eventually withdraw from the global body. At the centre of the effort is former Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan, who has become a vocal critic of the organisation. In May 2024, Erdan made headlines by putting a copy of the UN Charter into a small electric shredder during a General Assembly session.
His protest came as the General Assembly voted on a resolution supporting Palestine’s bid for full UN membership. The measure passed by 143 votes to nine, despite Erdan’s opposition. Erdan later left his UN post but has continued campaigning against the organisation.
Israeli Think Tank Targets UN
A key part of the campaign is a report prepared by the Israeli right-wing think tank Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy, with Erdan among its co-authors. According to Haaretz, the institute hired Washington-based lobbying firm Mercury Public Affairs to promote the report among US lawmakers and arrange meetings with officials in the Trump administration.
The report’s title — “From UN Bureaucracy to American Global Leadership – A Strategy for Advancing American Interests by Disengaging from a Failed UN” — makes its objective explicit. It argues that the UN undermines US interests, strengthens the influence of China and other adversaries, and has become inefficient and overly bureaucratic.
The report ultimately calls on Washington to “maximally disengage and withdraw from the UN” and replace it with alternative institutions wherever possible.
Israel’s Treatment at the UN a Major Focus
The document devotes considerable attention to Israel, arguing that the country faces what it describes as a permanent system of condemnation across numerous UN bodies. It claims that resolutions, investigations, special procedures and other mechanisms directed at Israel could eventually be used against US interests as well.
The report also sharply criticises UNRWA, accusing the UN agency for Palestinian refugees of contributing to radicalisation and being infiltrated by militants. Israel moved to prohibit UNRWA operations in the country and occupied East Jerusalem in 2024. The decision severely affected the agency’s ability to operate in Gaza, where millions of Palestinians depend on humanitarian assistance.
Following Israeli allegations against UNRWA, a UN investigation resulted in nine employees being dismissed, while several countries temporarily suspended funding to the agency.
Erdan’s Opposition to Palestinian Statehood
Erdan has been a prominent figure on Israel’s political right for decades. He began his political career opposing the Oslo Accords and later became a senior member of Likud. He also criticised Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from Gaza and has remained firmly opposed to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
On August 6, Erdan launched a new right-wing political party, Unity, alongside former Likud politician Yuli Edelstein. Speaking at the launch, Erdan reaffirmed his support for Israeli settlements and governance and said he remained strongly opposed to Palestinian statehood.
Influence in Washington
The campaign comes amid a wider network of pro-Israel political and lobbying organisations operating in the United States. The Misgav report’s other co-author, Asher Fredman, has links to the Kohelet Policy Forum and the Heritage Foundation, a major conservative US think tank that has had considerable influence during Trump’s second administration.
Other organisations supporting Israel in Washington include the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Zionist Organization of America and the Republican Jewish Coalition. Christian groups have also played a significant role. Christians United for Israel, which says it has more than 10 million members, promotes Christian Zionism and argues that support for Israel is rooted in biblical beliefs.
The campaign to weaken the UN therefore extends beyond Israel’s diplomatic criticism of the organisation, drawing on a broader network of Israeli, conservative and religious supporters seeking to reshape Washington’s approach to the UN and international institutions.
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