Gilad Menashe Erdan (born September 30, 1970, in Ramla, Israel) is a prominent Israeli politician and diplomat affiliated with the Likud party. He served in the Israel Defense Forces as a paratrooper before pursuing higher education, earning a B.A. in International Relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1994 and an LL.B. in Law from the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya in 1997. Erdan entered politics in the early 2000s, working as an aide to Benjamin Netanyahu and becoming a key figure in the Likud party under his leadership. He was first elected to the Knesset in 2009 and has held numerous high-profile ministerial positions, including Minister of Communications (2013-2015), Minister of Public Security (2013-2020), Minister of Interior (2015-2020), Minister of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy (2019-2020), overseeing anti-terrorism and public diplomacy efforts, Minister of Protection of the Home Front (2020), and Minister of Home Front Defense (managing national emergency preparedness). From 2020 to 2024, he served as Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, where he vigorously defended Israeli policies on the international stage, often clashing with Palestinian representatives and critics of Israel's actions, while focusing on countering Iran's nuclear ambitions and terrorism threats. From 2024, he resumed his role as Minister of Strategic Affairs in the Israeli government, focusing on countering the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.

Erdan is known for his hawkish stance on security issues, opposition to Palestinian statehood initiatives, and close alliance with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During his tenure as Public Security Minister, he oversaw significant expansions in police powers and internal security reforms, while facing criticism for the handling of protests, alleged excessive force against demonstrators, allegations of corruption in police appointments, and promoting legislation restricting NGO funding from foreign sources. As UN Ambassador, he frequently accused the UN of bias against Israel and engaged in heated debates over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Personally, Erdan is married to Michal Erdan and maintains a low public profile regarding his family life. He is an observant Jew and identifies with Israeli Jewish ethnicity. His career reflects a commitment to right-wing politics and Zionist ideals, with influences from his military background and legal education shaping his approach to governance and diplomacy. He has met with figures like Sarah Stern and maintains opposition to leaders such as Mahmoud Abbas.