Gabriella Shalev
Photo: Shahar Azran
Attempt to stop Israeli ambassador from addressing UN fails
Gabriella Shalev to speak before General Assembly in special session marking human rights day as representative of 30 nations, despite Assembly president's attempt to prevent speech
WASHINGTON – A recent attempt to prevent Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gabriella Shalev from speaking before the General Assembly has been foiled.
Shalev stands to speak at a UN session marking human rights day as the representative of "western European and other nations" – which includes 30 nations the likes of the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Shalev previously spoke at the Assembly's meeting marking the 60th anniversary of the UN's Human Rights Decree.
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UN General Assembly President, Father Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann of Nicaragua, has gone to great lengths over the past few days in order to prevent Shalev from speaking at the meeting, including ordering that no speeches were to be made in it at all.
Many Arab states have also tried to prevent Shalev from speaking at the Assembly, since portraying Israel as a nation which reveres human rights will hinder their efforts to finger Israel as the world's No.1 rights violator.
A compromise reached between the sides will allow for delegates from various Arab nations to address the Assembly as well.
Shalev intends to begin her address by asserting the holocaust as the basis for the UN's Human Rights Decree: "Sixty years on, the UN embraces the universal decree of human rights as a landmark which expresses its belief in basic human rights and the equality of men and women."
The Israeli ambassador stands to stress the fact that millions of people worldwide are without rights: "We must remember that human rights are more than just legal principles. The (decree) expresses values which humanity as a whole shares and the vision of a better, just world.
"Today, we are reaffirming our commitment to make that vision a reality."
