Israel to Formally Join UN Voting Group
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iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Israel will formally join the Western European and Others Group (WEOG) — a U.N. voting group that includes western European nations, Canada, New Zealand and the U.S. — as an observer.
In a statement Monday, Secretary of State John Kerry said the decision to invite Israel to join the group in Geneva is a welcome one that was “overdue.”
“It goes without saying that at a time when the scourge of global anti-Semitism is on the rise, it is more important than ever for Israel to have a strong voice that can be heard everywhere. This is a particularly welcome development as we work to end anti-Israel bias in the U.N. system,” Kerry said in the statement. “We will continue to speak out for our close ally, Israel, and we will continue to support efforts to normalize Israel’s treatment across the U.N. system as a full and equal member of the community of nations.”
The American Jewish Committee has praised the move. Since 2000, Israel had been a WEOG member on a temporary basis, subject to renewal.
“Israel is now a full member of the regional group in the Human Rights Council and that means we can play a bigger role in the human rights activities in Geneva,” Aharon Leshno Yaar, the Foreign Ministry deputy director general for U.N. and International Organizations, told the Jerusalem Post.
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