Arabs rap Israel election to chair UN legal body

Israel on Monday won an election to chair the UN legal committee, the first time that it will head one of the world body’s six permanent committees since joining the UN in 1949.

The chief Palestinian delegate at the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, complained about the results of the election, saying Arab and Muslim countries had tried to prevent an Israeli victory.
Speaking to reporters, Mansour described Israel as “the biggest violator of international law” and predicted that Danon’s election was “threatening the work of the Sixth Committee.”
He said the Arab League and 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation had opposed Israel’s election. (Editing by Andrew Hay and Matthew Lewis)
While it is a largely symbolic and procedural role, chairing the committee will give Israel a chance to have a higher profile in routine affairs at the United Nations.
The so-called Legal Committee, or Sixth Committee, oversees issues related to international law. The General Assembly has six standing committees that report to it, on: disarmament, economic and financial issues, human rights, decolonization, the UN budget, and legal issues.
“I am proud to be the first Israeli elected to this position,” Israel UN Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement.
“Israel is a world leader in international law and in fighting terrorism,” he added. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to share our knowledge with the countries of the world.”
Normally committee heads are elected by consensus without a vote. Opponents to the Israeli candidacy called for a vote, prompting a sharp reaction from the deputy US ambassador to the UN, David Pressman.
“Even a chair from (former leader Muammar) Qaddafi’s Libya was elected by acclamation,” he said in a statement. “A vote should not have been called today.”

Source: Arab News