Israeli gets top U.N. post

History in the making: The U.N. Assembly elected Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Gillerman as vice president of the organization’s General Assembly, which is scheduled to commence September 30.

Gillerman was elected by the bloc of western U.N. countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the western European countries.

Ronny Adam, the U.N. Department head at the Foreign Ministry, told Ynet about occurred behind the scenes and what is expected now.

“The International Organizations Branch put the request to the U.N., and they suggested that he serve as vice president of the assembly," Adam said. "This will require special preparation by the Israeli mission in the U.N. and learning committee procedures …”

This will be the first time in 53 years that an Israeli has served as vice-president of the U.N. General Assembly. The last one to do so was fabled Israeli envoy to the U.N. Abba Eban in 1952.

Last week Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom met with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The two discussed the possibility Gillerman would be appointed to the prestigious post.

Shalom congratualted Gillerman on his new position and said that “Israel will continue to improve and normalize its position in the U.N. until it becomes a country will equal rights, including membership in the Security Council.”

Gillerman said the appointment reflects the international community’s acknowledgment of the changes occurring in the world and particularly in the Middle East. The appointment is also an expression of the world’s support for Israel’s peace efforts, he said.

"U.N., Shmoom," remember?

Much has changed since the days when the government responded to critical U.N. resolutions by referring derisively to the U.N. ("Umm" in Hebrew) as "Shmoom."

Israel's relationship with the international body - which has taken to criticizing terrorism, anti-Semitism, and recalled the Holocaust on its 60th anniversary - has improved of late.

The decision to replace Israel's Ambassador to the U.N. Yehuda Lancry with businessman Danny Gillerman was made three years ago, at the time Shimon Peres served as foreign minister in the Sharon unity government.

As ambassador, Gillerman had to spearhead the Israeli PR front when the country was criticized for building the security fence in the West Bank and conducting an airstrike on a terrorist camp in Syria.

-- Diana Bahur-Nir contributed to this report.