Orthodox Union Lauds
United States Senate Adoption of Resolution 188 , Calling for Israeli Membership in a
United
Nations Regional group.
May 27, 1998
The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
today applauded the United States Senate for unanimously
adopting Senate Resolution 188 calling for Israeli membership in a United Nations regional
group.
The resolution which had 54 co-sponsors was spearheaded by United States Senator Daniel
Patrick Moynihan (D-NY).
The Orthodox Union has long advocated Israel's acceptance into a United Nations regional
group. Israel, as the only member state of the UN in long-standing that has never been
accepted to a regional bloc, should gain admittance to the United Nation's Western
European and Others group. This would enable Israel to play a more active role in the
United Nations while enabling the UN to reverse an act of discrimination against the State
of Israel.
Since joining the United Nations in 1949, Israel has been isolated from any one regional
bloc. Due to opposition from
Arab states, Israel's membership to the Asian grouping has been prevented. Since the WEO
group is based on
principles that unify Western style democracies rather than by regional grouping, Israel
should be included in the
WEOG, whose members include, among others, New Zealand, Australia and Canada.
Israel has demonstrated its willingness to participate fully in the proceedings and work
of the United Nations and her
acceptance into the WEO group would help nations of the world get the full benefit of
Israel's participation.
Senator Moynihan and the United States Senate deserve praise for this most important
resolution. Israel, by not
being accepted into any regional group, cannot exercise its full right as a member of the
UN, cannot be nominated
for membership in many UN groups and is therefore left out of important decision making
processes. We hope that
this excellent resolution on the part of the United States Senate will lead to a positive
response to Israel's request to
address the situation that reflects ultimately on the credibility of the United Nations.
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