Israel-Backed Campaign Seeks US Withdrawal From UN
Israel-linked figures and organisations are pushing a campaign in Washington aimed at persuading the United States to distance itself from the United Nations and ultimately withdraw from the global body, according to a report by Haaretz cited in the article.
The campaign has been spearheaded in part by former Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan, who has emerged as a prominent critic of the organisation. In May 2024, Erdan dramatically shredded a copy of the UN Charter during a General Assembly session as countries backed a resolution supporting the consideration of full UN membership for Palestine.
The resolution passed overwhelmingly, with 143 countries voting in favour and nine against. Erdan left his post at the UN shortly afterwards.
Think Tank Report Targets UN
A major element of the campaign is a report prepared by the right-wing Israeli think tank Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy. The document, co-authored by Erdan, argues that Washington should reduce its reliance on the UN and eventually withdraw from the organisation.
According to Haaretz, Misgav hired the US lobbying firm Mercury Public Affairs to promote the report among members of Congress and arrange meetings with officials in the Trump administration.
The report is titled “From UN Bureaucracy to American Global Leadership – A Strategy for Advancing American Interests by Disengaging from a Failed UN.”
It argues that the UN repeatedly works against US interests, strengthens the influence of China and other countries viewed as adversaries, and has failed to deliver on international peace and security.
The document also criticises the UN over what it describes as excessive bureaucracy, waste and institutional expansion.
- Israel at the Centre of the Criticism
- A significant portion of the report focuses on the UN’s treatment of Israel.
It argues that Israel faces a permanent system of condemnation across numerous UN bodies and mechanisms, including councils, commissions, special procedures and recurring resolutions.
The report claims that these mechanisms not only harm Israel but could eventually create instruments that might be used against the United States through international investigations, sanctions-related challenges and legal proceedings.
It also launches a strong attack on the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), accusing the organisation of contributing to radicalisation and being infiltrated by militants.
Israel banned UNRWA from operating in the country and occupied East Jerusalem in 2024. The move severely affected the agency’s ability to provide services in Gaza, where millions of Palestinians have relied on its assistance.
An investigation into Israeli allegations against UNRWA resulted in nine employees being dismissed, while a number of countries temporarily suspended funding to the agency.
Call for US to Leave the UN
The Misgav report also attacks the UN80 reform initiative launched by Secretary-General António Guterres in 2025, arguing that meaningful reform would require states benefiting from the current system to approve changes.
Its conclusion is particularly sweeping: the US should “maximally disengage and withdraw from the UN” and seek alternatives wherever possible.
The campaign reflects a broader effort to connect longstanding Israeli criticism of the UN with concerns among sections of the US political establishment over American sovereignty, China and the effectiveness of international institutions.
Erdan’s Right-Wing Politics
Erdan has long been associated with Israel’s political right. He began his political career opposing the Oslo Accords and later became a senior figure in the Likud party.
He criticised former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s 2005 withdrawal of Israeli troops and settlers from Gaza and has consistently opposed the creation of a Palestinian state.
After leaving the UN, Erdan continued to promote a strongly nationalist political agenda. On August 6, he launched a new right-wing party called Unity alongside former Likud politician Yuli Edelstein.
At the launch, Erdan said he opposed Palestinian statehood and supported Israeli settlement and governance over the land.
Wider US Pro-Israel Network
The campaign also involves individuals connected to influential US conservative organisations.
Misgav report co-author Asher Fredman has links to the Kohelet Policy Forum and the Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank that played an influential role in shaping policy discussions during Donald Trump’s second presidency.
The article also points to the role of major pro-Israel lobbying organisations in Washington, including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Zionist Organization of America and the Republican Jewish Coalition.
Religious organisations have also been important supporters of Israel in the US. Christians United for Israel, which claims more than 10 million members, promotes Christian Zionism and argues that supporting Israel has a biblical rather than merely political basis.
Together, these networks form part of a broader political ecosystem that has helped strengthen support for Israel in Washington while giving greater visibility to calls for a fundamental rethink of the US relationship with the United Nations.
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