Israel Secures Temporary Membership in UN Regional Caucus

After decades of isolation, Israel has finally accepted a long-sought goal of gaining a foothold in the United Nations by securing temporary membership in a regional caucus. The historic decision, facilitated by European friends and the intercession of Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, came with significant concessions, including forgoing influential seats and participation in European caucuses. Israeli diplomats and American Jewish leaders hailed the move as a crucial step towards equality in the international organization.

Key Takeaways:

• Israel's acceptance of temporary membership in the Western European and Other Group (WEOG) regional caucus was facilitated by European friends and Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke's intercession.
• The move came with significant concessions, including forgoing influential seats, particularly in the Security Council, and participation in European caucuses in Geneva, Vienna, and Nairobi.
• Israeli diplomats and American Jewish leaders hailed the move as a crucial step towards equality in the international organization.
• The acceptance was made possible by the support of European countries, particularly Belgium, Germany, and Sweden, which countered objections from Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and sometimes France.
• Israel's isolation in the United Nations was addressed by Secretary General Kofi Annan, who urged for inclusion, stating that "it sometimes seems that the United Nations served all the world's people but one: the Jews."
• The decision is seen as a significant step forward, but Israel's problems in the United Nations are not entirely solved, as it remains unequal and subject to conditions imposed by the UN.
• The fight for Israel's full rights and participation in the United Nations is not over, with David Harris of the American Jewish Committee stating that "Israel remains still unequal, and the conditions imposed on Israel reveal that fact."

Statistics:

• Israel has been a member of the United Nations since 1949.
• The United Nations voted to establish regional groups in the 1960s, at which point Israel, a member of the Asian caucus, was barred from membership.
• The regional caucus, WEOG, includes countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and sometimes the United States.
• The Clinton administration began lobbying European leaders at the highest levels, including King Juan Carlos of Spain, to support Israel's membership in the WEOG group.
• Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright spoke to European foreign ministers, and Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke began to tackle UN envoys to secure Israel's participation in the WEOG group.
• The acceptance of Israel's membership in WEOG was made possible by the support of several countries, particularly Belgium, Germany, and Sweden, which countered objections from Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and sometimes France.

Sources:

• "When the Europeans last week offered Israel a way out of its painful isolation at the United Nations..." - The New York Times
• "An American official said today that the Europeans spent the last decade blaming each other..." - The New York Times
• "The Clinton administration began to lobby European leaders at the highest levels, including King Juan Carlos of Spain..." - The New York Times
• "Diplomats regard this as at least a truce." - The New York Times
• "David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, said today that the fight is not over..." - The New York Times
• "Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke began to tackle envoys." - The New York Times
• "Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations, welcomed the European decision..." - The New York Times
• "David Harris of the American Jewish Committee stated that "Israel remains still unequal..." - The New York Times