Riyad Mansour

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Riyad Mansour

| image = Riyad Mansour.jpg

| office = 3rd Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations

| president = Mahmoud Abbas

| term_start = 17 September 2005

| term_end =

| predecessor = Nasser al-Qudwa

| successor =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1947|5|21|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Ramallah, Mandatory Palestine

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party =

| spouse =

| children =

| alma_mater = Youngstown State University
University of Akron

| religion =

| caption = Mansour in 2016

| native_name = {{no bold|رياض منصور}}

| native_name_lang = ar

}}

Riyad H. Mansour (born 21 May 1947) is a Palestinian-American diplomat and since 2005 has been the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations.[https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/bio3704.doc.htm New Permanent Observer of Palestine Presents Appointment Letter.] United Nations Press Release, October 5, 2005 Previous to Mansour's appointment to Permanent Observer, Mansour served as the Deputy Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations from 1983 to 1994. In 2005, President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas appointed him to succeed Nasser al-Qudwa as Permanent Observer for Palestine to the UN.[http://palestineun.org/mission-team/former-ambassadors/ Former Ambassadors, Permanent Observer Mission Of The State of Palestine to the United Nations, (Retrieved 21 December 2014).] Under Mansour, the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations changed from being an "entity" to being a "non-Member Observer State" on 29 November 2012.[https://www.un.org/press/en//2012/121127_Palestine.doc.htm Press Conference by Permanent Observer of Palestine], United Nations (November 27, 2012).[http://webtv.un.org/watch/ambassador-riyad-mansour-permanent-observer-mission-of-palestine-to-the-united-nations-press-conference/1992767007001 Ambassador Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations - Press Conference], UN Web TV, (November 27, 2012).[https://www.un.org/press/en/2012/ga11317.doc.htm General Assembly Votes Overwhelmingly to Accord Palestine 'Non-Member Observer State' Status" in United Nations], United Nations, (29 November 2012).

Early life and education

Mansour's father moved to the United States in the 1950s as a refugee and became a steelworker in Ohio. He later sent for his seven children from the West Bank, including Riyad,New York Times,"Son of an Ohio Steelworker, Now Palestinian Envoy to the U.N.", Rick Gladstone, 28 June 2019, [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/28/world/middleeast/palestinian-envoy-un-ohio-steelworker.html] who was born on 21 May 1947. The refugee family lived in Ramallah, Occupied West Bank. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and a Master of Science degree in education counselling from Youngstown State University, and a Ph.D in counselling from the University of Akron.[http://palestineun.org/mission-team/ambassador/ Ambassador, Permanent Observer Mission Of The State of Palestine to the United Nations, (Retrieved December 21, 2014).] In 2002, Mansour served as an adjunct professor in the Political Science Department at the University of Central Florida.

Statements on the Gaza war

Mansour has stated that events of the Gaza war amounted to "the most documented genocide in history".{{cite web | title=Gaza is 'most documented genocide in history,' says Palestinian UN rep | website=Al Jazeera | date=2024-07-17 | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/7/17/gaza-is-most-documented-genocide-in-history-says-palestinian-un-rep | access-date=2024-11-24}} On September 2024, He was given a new seat at the UN General Assembly after a vote.{{Cite web |title=Palestinians take new seat at UN General Assembly |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/09/11/palestinians-take-new-seat-at-un-general-assembly_6725549_4.html |website=Le Monde France}} On 28 May 2025, While recounting killed children in Gaza, Mansour broke down, banged the UN Security Council table and said: "This is unbearable, how could anyone?" before relooking at the list and eventually maintaining composure.{{Cite web |title=Palestinian UN envoy breaks down while recounting killed children in Gaza |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2025/5/28/palestinian-un-envoy-breaks-down-while-recounting-killed-children-in-gaza#flips-6373581308112:0 |website=Al Jazeera}}