Israeli Ambassador to the United States and the United Nations Gilad Erdan was barred on Monday by UN officials from bringing a display placard into the General Assembly showing that a UNRWA-appointed teacher in Gaza had expressed antisemitic views and praised former Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.
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Erdan had meant to display the post during a discussion on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in an effort to highlight the problem of incitement in UNRWA-operated schools.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, who addressed allegations of incitement and antisemitism in some of its classrooms and in some social media posts by its staff, spoke at the meeting and said he was "proud of UNRWA's education system."
"I am deeply proud of our education system and its resources. UNRWA uses host country curricula in line with best practices in refugee education," Lazzarini said.
"Let's be clear," he added, "UNRWA has a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech, incitement, discrimination, hostility or violence. I am, however, acutely aware that we are operating in a highly divided and emotionally charged environment where zero risk does not exist."
Lazzarini concluded: "Politically motivated attacks on our education system and more broadly against the agency are increasing in frequency and in aggression. Those behind these attacks do not have the well-being of Palestinian refugee children at heart."
Erdan, who wanted to respond to Lazzarini's speech and expose the truth about UNRWA's inciting education system and revelations of antisemitism within it, was stunned as a security team was instructed by UNRWA staff to prevent him from entering the General Assembly hall with the photo of an online post proving that the UNRWA-employed teacher had spewed antisemitic views and quoted Hitler as a source of inspiration.
The Israeli ambassador addressed the incident in his speech, saying: "I am shocked because I brought here with me a photo of a UNRWA teacher's post glorifying the most horrific mass murderer in history, Adolf Hitler. Unfortunately, shockingly, I was prevented from bringing in this photo in order to share this proof with the other distinguished ambassadors here.
"I see it as a very dangerous precedent here, preventing my freedom of expression, preventing my freedom of speech, and hiding the truth from the UN," Erdan said during his public speech to the UNGA.
Erdan went on to say that his attack on UNRWA was factual and not political.
"Hamas has built terror tunnels under UNRWA schools and stored weapons," he noted. "Textbooks used in UNRWA schools have glorified terrorists, called Jews Satan's helpers and display maps that erase Israel," he stated.
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"UNRWA is part of the problem, not the solution," Erdan said, "and the time has come for the International community to hold it accountable."
Speaking to reports after his speech, Erdan called it a "disgrace" that the UN was allowing lies to be presented while "leaving the truth outside."
"The UN isn't just biased, it also shuts mouths. The UNRWA commissioner-general said here that he was proud of his teachers. I didn't allow his lies to go without a response. I will continue fighting for our truth," he said.
