UNGA: Time For 97.4% To Overrule 2.6% And Expel Or Suspend Israel. 30 Minutes To Change The Locks And Entry Cards. Erdogan’s UNGA Quest Gains, But Will It Now Inflict Meaningful Pain Upon Israel?
At 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Time For A Majority To Act Like A Majority- 2.6% Control 97.4%
Moment For The 193 Members Of The United Nations To Vote To Expel Or Suspend The State Of Israel
Thirty Minutes For A Locksmith And Entry Card Programmer
In The Private Sector, An Employee Steals Or Harasses A Colleague May Be Fired. At The United Nations, Nothing Happens To A Member Responsible For The Deaths Of 65,000
Easy Quid-Pro-Quo: If Government Of The State Of Israel Provides Funding To Reconstruct What The IDF Has Done In Gaza, Then The State Of Israel Could Be Reinstated As A Member Of The United Nations
For The European Commission (EU), Dr. Ursula Von Der Leyen’s “Unbearable” Description Of The Death And Destruction In Gaza Remains For Her Quite “Bearable” Nearing 24 Months Of Acceptable Death And Destruction
Given The Rate Of Death And Level Of Destruction In Gaza, The EU And Other Countries May Believe There Is Not Much Remaining For Israel Defense Forces (IDF) To Destroy, So Wait It Out Before Sanctioning State Of Israel- And Then Return To Normalized Relations. That Is What The Government Of The State Of Israel Is Depending Upon- And They Are Likely Correct
Is It Possible To Be Pessimistic About Gaza In The Short-Term And Optimistic For Gaza In The Long-Term?
For Turkiye’s President Erdogan, Might His Rather Solitary Journey In Support Of The 2.3 Million Inhabitants Of Gaza Have Its Moment At The UNGA And Beyond?
Trump Encounter Headwinds: Might President Erdogan Encounter Pressure To “Weigh Up” His Criticism Of The State Of Israel In Anticipation Of His 25 September 2025 Meeting At The White House?
On 22 September 2025, the first of 188 scheduled remarks (each requested to be no more than fifteen minutes) commence at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, New York. The morning and afternoon process continues until 29 September 2025. Member countries/nations/states are represented by their respective heads of state, heads of government, monarchs, and ministers.
There is one question for members of the UNGA whose lack of an answer thus far defies logic, even within the convolutions of diplomatic logic. Why does the State of Israel remain a member in good standing of the UNGA?
76% of members of the UNGA have voted previously to recognize a Palestinian State and/or Palestinian Statehood. The majority of members of the UNGA believe (statements and voting) that the government of the State of Israel has engaged in genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
There are expectations during the UNGA the governments of Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, and United Kingdom will recognize a Palestinian State and/or Palestinian Statehood, although there are statements by officials of those governments which provide them a rationale to delay based upon decisions taken by Hamas and decisions taken by the government of the State of Israel.
Why have a majority of members of the UNGA not introduced a measure to expel the State of Israel, or at minimum suspend the State of Israel from the UNGA?
This week may be the moment for such an effort when the majority can demonstrate resolve and wrestle away control from the minority. In this instance, when 97.4% wrestle control from 2.6%.
Specifically, for members of the UNGA to ignore any decision, rebuke, statement, threat, or veto by the five veto-endowed permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)- China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, and United States.
What could or would one member or the five collectively do to prevent the State of Israel from suspension or expulsion?
The process itself could be accomplished within thirty (30) minutes by a locksmith and programmer.
The facilities maintenance team at the United Nations Secretariat Building (UNSB) changes the locks to the offices of the State of Israel and deactivates electronic access cards for members of the Permanent Mission of the State of Israel to the United Nations. Done.
The government of the People’s Republic of China might vote yes or abstain to preserve its self-defined middle-ground alignment and not wanting to stage-set for reaction when if by force it unifies with the island of Taiwan.
The government of France would vacillate between voting no and a veto; its challenge would be in rationalizing in the 21st century ignoring the will of the majority and adhering to its “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.”
The government of the Russian Federation might vote no or a veto fearing the expulsion of the State of Israel could provide diplomatic ammunition for the government of Ukraine and its allies to seek the same treatment for the Russian Federation.
The government of the United Kingdom would probably vote no or veto, but like France the government of the United Kingdom would struggle defending limiting the rights of a majority.
The Trump-Vance Administration (2025-2029) would issue a veto and announce a suspension of financial contributions to the United Nations (UN)- that is approximately 25% of the UN budget. Probably implement quality-of-life inconveniences for the UN delegations from those UNGA members voting to expel or suspend the State of Israel. Think of travel visas, diplomatic parking plates- and paying parking fines, travel restrictions within the New York City metropolitan area. The implementation of sanctions- commercial, economic, financial, and political would be threatened.
This 80th UNGA may be a watershed moment for the 193 members of the UNGA. Unless and until there are consequences to a member for what a collective majority of members believe, there is no disincentive to change the behavior? And, the larger issue is one of relevance- just what use is the UN if there are no consequences to members of the club who disobey the rules?
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkiye (2014-2028), has since at least the 2023 G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India, shared the “world is larger than five” meaning the five permanent members of the UNSC. He proposed that the government of India be added. In President Erdogan’s view, a minority at the UN must be afraid of, not hamstring, the will of the majority at the UN.
President Erdogan’s statement could be expanded and inflated to the “UNGA must now operate as a democracy- majority rules while protecting minority rights.”
For the UN, it only has relevance if those members targeted by UNGA declarations and resolutions, and/or by UNSC decisions agree to accept whatever has been decided- despite the member objecting to the decision. Until a member accepts an outcome it does not want, the UN will continue to be administratively and operationally feckless.
In the same manner that the twenty-seven (27) member countries of the Brussels, Belgium-based European Union (EU) require “simple majorities” and “qualified majorities” and “super majorities” and “unanimity” depending upon the type of decision, the UNGA can do the same with respect to a motion to expel or suspend the State of Israel. And then, critically, implement the decision regardless of the wishes of the five permanent members of the UNSC.
If there is a legitimate ambition to politically disembowel the five permanent members of the UNSC, then has not the moment arrived when a member has, in the words of the majority of members of the UNGA, committed atrocities, crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes?
For the government of Ukraine, how to vote on an expulsion or suspension of the State of Israel presents a political dilemma. Voting to expel or suspend the State of Israel would be consistent with its position for consequences towards the government of the Russian Federation particularly since 24 February 2022. However, there would be unknown- or possibly no consequences from the Trump-Vance Administration and the United States Congress.
The government of the State of Israel neither supports Palestinian Statehood and/or a Palestinian State. On these subjects there is no equivocation, no vacillation, nothing wishy-washy.
Officials of the government of the State of Israel have repeated there will never be a Palestinian State and/or Palestinian Statehood and there will never be a Palestinian State using the territories of the Occupied West Bank and Gaza. The government of the State of Israel annexed East Jerusalem, continues to expand settlements, and prepares to annex portions of the West Bank- as it did and may do again with internationally-recognized territory of the Syrian Arab Republic.
The Golan Heights is the sovereign territory of Syria. Occupied since 1967 by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at the direction of successive governments of the State of Israel. De facto annexed since 1981. Recognized as territory of the State of Israel in 2019 by the Trump-Pence Administration (2017-2021).
“Time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.” Donald Trump, President of the United States, 2019
“The United States recognizes that the Golan Heights are part of the State of Israel.” Donald Trump, President of the United States, 2019
“What the President did with the Golan Heights is recognize the reality on the ground and the security situation necessary for the protection of the Israeli state. It’s that- it’s that simple.” Michael Pompeo, United States Secretary of State, 2019
NOTE: The government of the State of Israel may not have an issue with Palestinian Statehood and the creation of a Palestinian State provided that the location is outside of the territories recognized by the government of the State of Israel as within the State of Israel. If Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, or another country want to host a Palestinian State, they are welcome to do so.
NOTE: The accusation of crimes against humanity has at least one challenge- officials in the government of the State of Israel have ascribed non-human status to the 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza. For officials in the government of the State of Israel, inhabitants of Gaza are more similar to animals than to humans.
Thus far, there remains a deep and dark political distance between the words and decisions of Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, President (2019-2029) of the Brussels, Belgium-based European Commission (EC) which is the administrative apparatus for the twenty-seven-country member Brussels, Belgium-based European Commission (EU).
EU: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
Her mandate is to guide, lead, and implement the EU through EC instrumentality. Since 7 October 2023, the results remain wanting. Consider her recent remarks:
“Allow me to mention one issue that I know is close to the heart of so many of you: the unbearable tragedy of Gaza. What is happening in Gaza is unacceptable. This is why I have put forward a package of proposals that can make a real difference.” Dr. Ursula von der Leyen
Her crisply delivered statement is vapid- particularly with 90% of infrastructure and structures in Gaza damaged or destroyed and 2.3 million inhabitants without adequate (with quite a fluid definition) access to clothing, education, food, healthcare, sanitation, shelter, and water. Where Gaza is today did not happen by the flip of a switch, in the dead of night. The death and destruction have like a rheostat continued to increase- and Dr. von de Leyen has watched it from the first day onward- since 7 October 2023.
The EU is considering: Suspension of “preferential trade benefits” with the State of Israel. Suspension of some funding to the State of Israel and “sanctions on the extremist ministers and on violent settlers.” Not considering: Lessening imports to the EU of military equipment from the State of Israel- approximately US$8 billion in 2024. There is support among some EU members to suspend the State of Israel from participation in the 2026 Eurovision music competition. None of these potentialities send a chill down the back of the government of the State of Israel.
The government of the United Kingdom prohibited representatives from the government of the State of Israel from attending the Defense and Security Equipment International Exhibition. However, Israel-based company representatives and Israel-based exhibitors were permitted to attend the event. Really?
When Steven Witkoff, Assistant to the President, Senior Advisor, and Special Envoy (2025- ) for the Trump-Vance Administration visited Gaza he wore a black Make America Great Again (MAGA) cap and a safari jacket with camouflage coloring. Challenging to create a more inappropriate and insulting costume when visiting 2.3 million who are suffering. He was dressed more to shoot grouse. Then again, his costume was not out of place as he was escorted by members of the IDF who are shooting, but at people- the wild, free range, inhabitants of Gaza.
“[W]e do not want to see a humanitarian crisis, and we will not allow it to occur on President Trump’s watch.” Steven Witkoff
“It's terrible what's occurring there. It's a terrible thing. People are very hungry. You know, the United States gave $60 million for food and it's a shame, because I don't see the results of it. And we gave it to people that in theory are watching over it fairly closely. We wanted Israel to watch over it. Part of the problem is Hamas is taking the money and they're taking the food. But we gave US$60 million a couple of weeks ago. Nobody said anything about it. Nobody said, 'Thank you,' but I didn't need the thank you. I just wanted people to get fed. And we're helping out financially with that situation. It's a terrible situation.” President Donald Trump
Let’s be honest… President Trump did care about receiving a thank you note, a chorus of gratitude. Had there been an operational postal service in Gaza, a letter might also have reached him.
If the UN imposes no consequential penalties for bad behavior, the institution might as well be a mouth requiring dentures- and no one can find the dentures.
