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Israel
Israel position paper, courtesy of Alissa Nelson:
Mr. President,
Esteemed Delegates,
The Israeli government, headed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Ezer Weizman, is one founded on the basic principles of Jewish law and teaching. Thus, we respect the rights of people world wide, regardless of race or religion. Our parliamentary system of government, in place for Israel’s 50 years, has helped to guide our country through war and into a blossoming peace.
The Israeli goverment is currently working with all of its resources to promote peace, stability and prosperity, not only in our immediate vicinity, but throughout the world. We wish to give hope, Hatikvah, to those who have none.
On the United Nations
On November 29, 1947, the General Assembly passed Resolution 181, which called for the partition of the British mandate in Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state. Less than two years later, on May 11, 1949, Israel became the 59th UN member nation. Yet despite this early support, Israel has not received the same treatment in the UN as other member nations. Of 185 member nations, only one has never been accepted for membership into a geo-political group: Israel. (Yaacobi) As a result, Israel cannot become a member of the Security Council, a right possessed by every other member nation. This is because the Arab Bloc will not accept Israel as a member. As a result, anti-Israel General Assembly Resolutions are consistently passed. We urge that this issue will be resolved by the possible entry of Israel into the Western European and Others Bloc.
On the Middle Eastern Situation
In the past few years, the tensions have begun to lift in the Middle East between Israel and the Arab states. Currently, Israel is negotiating with Turkey to develop a regional security-economic alliance. This is intended to help both of our states, enabling the two to cooperate in trade and technology. We are also cooperating with Jordan on several ventures and discussing water, transport and economic issues. Also, we are currently working to carry out Security Council Resolution 425, calling for Israel’s withdrawal from Southern Lebanon. (Biran) Also, Israel would like to stress our disapproval of the apparent Arab arms race, with the Iranian development of the Shihab long-range missiles capable of striking Israel, with the use of Russian missile technology. (News)
On the Palestinian Question
As Yasser Arafat announced to the General Assembly in September, the Palestinian Authority is planning to declare an independent state. In Israel’s eyes, the Palestinians already have an autonomous region. The Palestinian Authority currently governs nearly all of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the declaration of an independent Palestinian state would be in violation of the Oslo accords, and would draw an appropriate reaction on Israel’s part. (Barin) However, Israel would remind the delegates that we have been making great strides in the peace process of late and does not wish to make any preliminary decisions before any action has been taken on the part of the Palestinians.
On Kosovo and Ethnic Strife
Israel wishes to voice its support for the ethnic Albanians of Kosovo. As a nation founded by Jews fleeing persecution, we have always supported the freedom of expression throughout the world, regardless of ethnicity. In the 1980s, Israel was a haven for Ethiopian Jews, and in the 90s, Israel was the first nation to open its borders to Bosnian refugees. Israel has signed and ratified many conventions on human rights, such as the Convention on the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide in 1950, and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination of 1979. (International Conventions on Human Rights) We will continue to be the voice of persecuted minorities around the globe.
Works Cited
International Conventions on Human Rights.
http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/mfa/civilr.html
Ambassador Gad Yaacobi. Israel and the UN: the next 50 years. May 1995. gopher://israel-info.gov.il:70/00/un/unart/950500.uno
Excerpts from Interview with Yoav Biran-Sept 1998. http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/mfa/speeches/biran998.html
News in Brief. The Jerusalem Post, September 19 1998, pg 4, No. 1976.
Reichel, Aaron I. "The Ultimate Irony of Rabin’s Legacy" Midstream: a Monthly Jewish Review. January 1998.
"Oslo’s missing parts." The Jerusalem Post. September 19 1998, pg 10, No. 1976.
De Toledano, Ralph. "History, Israel, and the Myth of the ‘Occupied Territories’." Midstream: a Monthly Jewish Review. January 1998.