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Israel formally asks to be included in European regional group |
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April 9, 2000
UNITED NATIONS, APR 8 (AP) - After years of behind-the-scenes negotiations, Israel has formally asked to join the U.N. regional group of European, North American and other countries in a bid to have more representation at the United Nations, diplomats said Friday.
Israeli Ambassador Yehuda Lancry wrote to the chairman of the so-called Western European and Others Group asking it consider Israel to be a full member on a temporary basis. The letter was received Friday by the New Zealand mission, which currently heads the group, diplomats said.
Israel isn't a member of any regional group at the United Nations and is thus unable to campaign for candidacies on U.N. committees, particularly the Security Council.
Far outnumbered by the Arab states at the United Nations, Israel has spent years quietly trying to get into the so-called WEOG group with the help of its main ally here, the United States.
But it had met resistance from some European countries.
Earlier this year, Spain reversed its position and decided to back Israel's membership.
Three working-level groups within the European Union followed up and recommended membership, diplomats said.
But it's still unclear if European ministers as a whole, as well as the rest of the WEOG group, are now ready to fully back membership.
In addition, details over how Israel would be allowed to campaign for vacancies on U.N. committees still have to be worked out, diplomats said.
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