Ambassador Ron Prosor
Photo: AP
Ambassador Prosor becomes first Israeli to chair elections to UN Human Rights Committee
Israeli ambassador to UN unanimously nominated by representatives of 170 countries to chair significant elections, says 'central role Israel plays to advance human rights is the real answer to anyone calling for boycotts against us'.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor made history Tuesday when representatives of 170 countries unanimously nominated the Israeli diplomat to preside over the elections for the UN Human Rights Committee.
Prosor became the first Israeli diplomat nominated to supervise UN elections. Representatives of the Israel delegation to the UN said that choosing Prosor to chair the elections process is a sign of the popularity the current Israeli ambassador enjoys in New York.
"It is a great honor to chair the elections for the Human Rights Committee. The central role Israel plays to advance human rights around the world is the real answer to anyone calling for boycotts against Israel."
Prosor chairing the elections (Photo: Tal Trachtman Alroy)
Israel has been making inroads at the international organization after a few years in the diplomatic dark. A few months ago, Israel rejoined the Human Rights Council in Geneva and a few days ago it was admitted into JUSCANZ, a key UN group which advises the Human Rights Council as wel as other UN bodies.
Israel was previously admitted to the group in 2010, but recently joined its sessions in New York.
Elections to the Human Rights Committee occur once every two years. The UN Human Rights Committee is the diplomatic body charged with monitoring human rights developments across the globe. The committee meets is composed of 18 experts and meets three times a year for four-week sessions in New York and Geneva.
Yitzhak Benhorin and Roei Eisenberg contributed to this report.
