Political Quotes

“Today I am pleased to submit a resolution seeking to right a 50 year wrong. I am joined by the distinguished senior Senator from Indiana, Senator Lugar, and 37 of my colleagues. Having served as our Ambassador to the United Nations, I am painfully aware of the paradox facing Israel at the United Nations. Israel is a state which was created by the United Nations, and yet for 50 years has been treated as a step-child--or worse--in its dealings at the United Nations. Never was that more apparent than the sad period when the General Assembly equated Zionism with racism. It took a long 16 years to repeal, but after great effort it was done. Today, I hope we can begin a similar effort to end a Cold War anomaly. I speak of the fact that Israel is excluded from a United Nations regional group. Israel is the only one of the 185 member states of the United Nations barred from membership in a regional group. The United Nations member states have organized themselves by regional groups since before Israel joined the United Nations in 1949. Membership in a United Nations regional group confers eligibility to sit on the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, as well as other United Nations councils, commissions, and committees.”