Gideon Sa'ar responds to Yvette Cooper’s criticism of Israel during UN Security Council meeting (original) (raw)
Gideon Sa'ar sharply responded to Yvette Cooper's criticism of Israel's land policies at the UN, referencing the Balfour Declaration and historical British support for a Jewish homeland.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar speaks during a stakeout before attending a Security Council meeting at UN headquarters in New York City, U.S., August 5, 2025.
(photo credit: REUTERS/EDUARDO MUNOZ)
ByIDAN KWELLER, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
FEBRUARY 19, 2026 06:07
Updated: FEBRUARY 19, 2026 18:21
A debate sparked between Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper during a UN Security Council session on the Middle East on Wednesday night.
The UN session, called by the UK as part of its presidency of the Security Council, saw escalating tensions as Cooper attacked Israeli policies in the West Bank.
She specifically highlighted "settler violence" and called for stronger Palestinian leadership. In response, Sa'ar presented a historical map.
Sa'ar responded to Cooper's claims by paying honour to Britain’s long-standing support for the State of Israel, referencing pivotal moments such as the Balfour Declaration, Winston Churchill’s visit, and the Commonwealth’s role in supporting the establishment of a Jewish state.
The Balfour Declaration
He addressed Cooper directly, saying, "In 1917, the British government published the historic Balfour Declaration to establish a national home for the Jewish people in our land."
Sa'ar continued by citing Winston Churchill’s 1921 visit to Israel, reinforcing the claim that Jews deserve a national home.
"Where else could it be but this land, with which for over 3,000 years they have been intimately and profoundly associated?" he echoed Churchill's question.
He posed another pointed question to the British representative: "In 1922, the predecessor of the UN, the Commonwealth Council, tasked Britain with re-establishing a Jewish national home. Madam President, what have you left of the lofty and historical tradition of Balfour and Churchill?"
Following the debate, Sa'ar condemned Cooper's arguments, labeling them part of a "hypocritical obsession against Jewish presence in the heart of our tiny land."
He contended, "The claim that Israelis cannot live in Judea and Samaria (The West Bank) isn't just inconsistent with international law and Britain’s own Balfour Declaration, but it is also morally distorted. How can Jews live in London, Paris, or New York, but not in the cradle of our civilization?”
The tensions in the room escalated further when Sa'ar addressed the Russian ambassador to the UN, saying, "It was amusing to hear the representative of the Russian Federation talk about law, international law, occupation, land expansion, and peaceful resolutions.
"I must admit, I had to restrain myself from laughing out loud," he said.