AIJAC has welcomed the UN’s historic decision on May 26 to formally invite Israel to join the West European and Others Group, known as the WEOG regional bloc. AIJAC’s Executive Director, Dr Colin Rubenstein, today also congratulated the Australian Government on its prominent role in achieving this important diplomatic breakthrough.

"This is an historic outcome. Forty years of bias and discrimination within the United Nations regional grouping system has now ended, and with it, a major blot on the reputation and effectiveness of the UN," Dr Rubenstein said.

"Since the evolution of the regional bloc system in the 1960s, Israel has been excluded by discrimination and hostility from the more appropriate Asia group by Arab and Islamic opposition and was the only state left outside the regional group framework. As a result, Israel was denied the right to vote and to be elected to UN institutions, and was unable to participate in political and professional consultations within the framework of the UN and its agencies."

"This inequitable state of affairs is now behind us with Israel’s admission into the group. Overcoming the conditions still placed on Israel, most notably, that it can only participate in WEOG activities coming out of the UN’s New York headquarters, can now be undertaken from the inside," Dr Rubenstein said.

Dr Rubenstein also commended the Australian Government for the prominent role it has played over recent years as a member of WEOG in advancing the cause of Israel’s inclusion in the bloc. "Australia’s political and diplomatic representatives have pursued this outcome energetically and effectively and deserve our sincere appreciation," Dr Rubenstein concluded.

For further information please contact Dr Colin Rubenstein on (03) 9529 5022 or 0418 339 721.