- Israel has been elected to chair a UN committee for the first time in the world body’s 71-year history, triggering strong protests from Arab countries and the Palestinians.
- Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon won the chair of the legal affairs committee of the General Assembly on Monday by picking up 109 votes from the 193 member-states.
Danon’s candidacy was put to a vote by secret ballot at the request of Arab countries.
- Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour criticised the regional group for putting forward Danon’s candidacy, saying he was unworthy of the task. Yemen’s Ambassador Khaled Alyemany, who heads the Arab Group at the United Nations, said he had messaged all member-states to protest the election of the Israeli ambassador.
- Israel’s candidacy was backed by the United States and European countries.
Most of the work on resolutions adopted by the General Assembly is done by committees, which present measures that are agreed upon by all UN member-states.
(With inputs from PTI)
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