H. RES. 615 - ISRAEL'S EQUALITY IN THE UNITED NATIONS

Introduced by Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana (D-FL)
introduced into the House of Representatives on 15th July 2004
Cosponsors

Since the mid-1960s, the member states of the United Nations have been divided into five groups. The U.N. increasingly relies on this 'Group System' for its operations, and specifically in two important components of the U.N.; the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. Israel has been refused admission to the Asian Group of the United Nations, and thereby is denied the rights of full member states in the U.N. This violates the principles and ideas in the United Nations charter, particularly, the right for states to be treated with sovereign equality, the right to vote, and the right to participate fully in the United Nations General Assembly.

On May 30, 2000 Israel did accept temporary membership in the Western European and Others Group; however, this membership is only temporary and still does not allow Israel to run for open seats or to run for positions in any major body in the U.N. Additionally, with this type of membership, Israel is excluded from participating in discussions and consultations of the Group at the United Nations offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Rome and Vienna.

Israel is a democratic country, whose voting pattern is consistent with that of other Western European member states.

That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that-
. The President should direct the Secretary of State and the United States permanent representative to the United Nations to seek for an immediate end to the in equal treatment that Israel experiences in the United Nations.

. United States interests would be served if Israel were allowed the benefits of full membership in the United Nations, and thereby membership in the Western European and Others Group.

. Consistent with section 405 (a) of division C of H.R. 1950, as passed by the House of Representatives on July 16, 2003, the Secretary of State and appropriate officials should pursue aggressive diplomatic efforts and should exercise all powers necessary to ensure the Israel's membership in the United Nations is upgraded.

. The Secretary of State should submit a report on a regular basis to the House of Representatives regarding the actions taken by the United States to encourage the Western European and Others Group member states to accept Israel as a full member of their group and describes the responses thereto from the member states.

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