BICOM

Israel’s delegation to the United Nations (UN) yesterday took part for the first time in a meeting of a group of Western states helping coordinate human rights issues.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Leiberman announced Israel’s membership of JUSCANZ, a caucus of 15 non-European Union Western democratic states including Japan, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The grouping is part of the UN Third Committee, which deals with humanitarian affairs and human rights issues. Lieberman commented, “Next time you hear reports of diplomatic isolation or a wave of boycotts threatening Israel, know that the reality is very different.”

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor said that, “Israel’s admission to this group is another manifestation of the international respect for Israeli democracy.” Meanwhile, United States Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power added that Israel’s participation in the JUSCANZ caucus “is an important step toward securing Israel’s full participation across the UN system.” Last November, in another significant development, Israel was accepted into the Western European and Others Group (WEOG) at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, a body with a record of hostility towards Israel.

Meanwhile, Lieberman also announced yesterday that Israel has been granted observer status to the Pacific Alliance, a free-trade bloc of five Latin American countries – Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Costa Rica. Israel is the first Middle Eastern country to be handed this status. Lieberman described the region as an “attractive” market and noted that “Israel’s admittance as an observer is testimony to its good relations with the member countries, and the mutual desire to develop the relationship.”

Speaking on the eve of a speech today at the Knesset, European Parliament President Martin Schulz said that although there is a debate in Europe over labelling West Bank goods, there is no European Union support for a boycott of Israel. Receiving an honorary doctorate from Hebrew University, Schulz said, “In the European Parliament there is for sure not a majority for a potential boycott.”