Political Quotes

“Today a unanimous Senate will state in clear and simple terms that we will no longer abide by the discrimination faced by Israel at the United Nations. 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. For the first time, the Senate provides notice of its intention to work to end this Cold War anachronism. One sorry throwback to an era when the institutionalized isolation of Israel was a given in international affairs--the ugly 'gentlemen's agreement' that excludes Israel and only Israel from membership in any United Nations Regional Group. Israel, and only Israel, can never sit on the United Nations Security Council. Israel, and only Israel, can never serve on the United Nations Economic and Social Council, where her expertise is so sorely missed. Israel, and only Israel, is less than a full member of the very international organization which bravely voted on November 29, 1947 to create it. Today we call for Israel's admission to a United Nations Regional Group.”