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June 2, 2000/28 Iyar 5760, Vol. 52, No.39
Breakthrough at United Nations
JULIE WIENER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Israel and its supporters are applauding a breakthrough for the country at the United Nations, a body that many believe has long treated the Jewish state unfairly. Israel - the only U.N. member country that has been excluded from a regional group - was formally invited May 26 to join the Western European and Others Group, known as WEOG.
On Tuesday, in a letter from U.N. Ambassador Yehuda Lancry, Israel accepted the invitation, saying, "We hope that this acceptance will open a new chapter in the relationship between Israel and the United Nations."
A statement issued by Israel's Foreign Ministry said the WEOG admission "marked the end of four decades of discrimination and injustice."
But while heralding the move, Israeli leaders and their backers say they are still concerned about some of the membership "modalities," or conditions, imposed on its acceptance - mainly that Israel can only participate in WEOG activities coming out of the U.N.'s New York headquarters and that Israeli representatives will be barred for two years from running for positions on U.N. councils.
Israel's membership in the 26-member U.N. group, which includes the United States and Canada, is temporary, on the condition that it continue to apply for the more geographically appropriate Asia group.
That group, which includes Israel's most intransigent foes Iran and Iraq, has consistently rejected Israel's applications.
For decades, Israel has been the only U.N. member shut out of a regional group, and last week's invitation followed years of lobbying.
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