UNITED NATIONS, New York (WJC) — The World Jewish Congress (WJC) on Tuesday welcomed the election of Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon to the chair the United Nations Sixth Committee, which deals with legal issues and terrorism among other things.
It was the first time Israel was elected for the presidency of a permanent UN committee. Ahead of the secret ballot of all UN member states, the WJC had sent letters to the UN ambassadors of 64 countries, urging them to support Israel’s candidacy.
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder called the vote in the UN General Assembly “a significant victory for Israel and a glimmer of hope.” Two weeks ago, Lauder spoke at a conference at the United Nations in New York where he scolded the world body for constantly singling out Israel.
WJC CEO Robert Singer said: “Yesterday’s vote shows that things can be done to improve Israel’s standing at the UN. It is critical that we continue to work with countries to help make the United Nations a fairer and more effective organization. I congratulate Ambassador Danny Danon on this historic achievement and on his election. I know he will discharge this duty with competence.”
Israel was nominated for Sixth Committee presidency by the Western European and Others Group (WEOG) of UN member states, which includes European and North American countries.
The WJC sent letters to the permanent representatives of the following UN member states: Angola, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, the Comoros, Costa Rica, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, the Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, India, the Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Mauritius, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Nicaragua, Namibia, Panama, Peru, Poland, Romania, São Tomé & Principe, Senegal, the Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Zambia.
Danon said in a post on Facebook that Iran, the Palestinians and several anti-Israel nations tried to stop the appointment. He thanked the countries that “stood beside Israel” in the historic vote. He received 109 out of 175 votes in the General Assembly.
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The American Jewish Congress issued this statement:
Yesterday, Israel was elected to chair the United Nations’ legal committee, marking the first time the Jewish State will lead one of the U.N.’s six permanent committees. The Legal Committee, or Sixth Committee, is responsible for issues related to international law and will be led by Israel’s Ambassador to the U.N, Danny Danon. In response to Israel’s appointment, American Jewish Congress (AJCongress) President Jack Rosen issued the following statement:
“Israel has long been disproportionately singled out and wrongfully marginalized in the United Nations. Ambassador Danon’s selection to lead one of the six permanent committees in the world body is an important opportunity for Israel to be more proactively and regularly involved in U.N. affairs. But this is more than a symbolic role overseeing matters of international law— which by the way, Israel is beyond qualified to do—this is a chance for Israel to fundamentally change the state of play at the United Nations on a range of issues. On behalf of the American Jewish Congress, I want to congratulate Ambassador Danon on the election and express our enthusiasm in continuing to work with him to advance Israel’s interests in the international arena.”
The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations issued this comment:
Leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (COP) today welcomed the election of Israel as Chair of the UN General Assembly Sixth Committee and congratulated Ambassador Danny Danon for his leadership in achieving a historic victory, marking the first time Israel has been elected to Chair a permanent General Assembly committee. The Sixth Committee considers a broad array of legal questions in the General Assembly and deals with the most significant issues of international law considered by the UN.
Stephen M. Greenberg, Conference of Presidents Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, said:
“We congratulate Ambassador Danny Danon on the historic election of Israel to chair the UN General Assembly Sixth Committee. This election is an important recognition of the true value of Israel’s place in the world body as a nation committed to the rule of law and the role the United Nations can play in addressing injustice.
In every past election for the Chair of the Sixth Committee the choice was made by acclamation without a vote. Yet, the intensifying anti-Israel activity by many countries at the United Nations resulted in forcing a vote only on Israel’s candidacy. The strong backing for Israel’s candidacy from the United States UN Mission continued to demonstrate steadfast U.S. support for Israel in the United Nations and we praise the member countries of the Western European and Others Group for endorsing Israel’s candidacy.
In all of its meetings with UN ambassadors, the Conference of Presidents urged them to support Israel’s bid to chair the Sixth Committee.”