27 August 2008 - Israel joined the UN Security Council debate on resolution 1832, the renewal of UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL). While Ambassador Daniel Carmon, Charge d'Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Israel, thanked the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the troops on the ground, he noted that Lebanon’s noncompliance with resolution 1701, as well as ongoing activity by Hizbullah and arms smuggling by Iran and Syria, pose major challenges to the security of the region.

July 2008 - The Economic and Social Council concluded its work for the 2008 resumed session. During this session, two politically motivated resolutions concering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were tabled, one coming by the way of the Commission on Status of Women and the other to the general Council.

In an statement of explanation of position on the draft resolution "Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women", Ms. Meirav Eilon-Shahar, Counsellor, noted that "this is the only resolution at the Commission on the Status of Women that addresses a specific political situation; there are no other geographically or politically specific resolutions". Israel called for delegations to vote against its adoption.

In an statement of explanation of position on the draft resolution concerning economic and social conditions of the Palestinians, Mr. Ilan Fluss, Counsellor, called on delegations not to support the resolution as "this resolution and agenda item, which deal with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict according to a singular narrative and in a selective, biased, and one-sided manner, do not belong in ECOSOC".

22 July 2008 - Israel joined the Security Council's open debate on the "Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question". The meeting was one of the tri-monthly open debates held by the Council.

Ambassador Dan Gillerman, Permanent Representative, began his statement explaining, "I have prepared a speech for this meeting, which I will submit to you and ask you to read, because some very good people worked very hard on it, and I think it is a very good speech that should be read by everybody. But as this is most probably my last appearance before you, as Permanent Representative of the State of Israel, I would like to take this opportunity to speak to you from the heart, rather than the written word". (Click the above links to read the circulated text and Ambassador Gillerman's extemporaneous remarks ).

During his final statement, Ambassador Gillerman highlighted the challenges that will face the Council, including the issue of extremism within the world of Islam. He urged the Council to deal with the world’s real problem -- that there was no clash of civilizations, but only a “clash of civilization”.

In closing, Ambassador Gillerman made one final promise. "It has been a honour for me to serve with you and I want on this very special occasion to make one more pledge to you. For whatever happens, for whatever you discuss, whatever transpires, Israel will prevail".

17 July 2008 - Israel joined the Security Council's semi-annual debate on "Children and Armed Conflict", delivering a statement in the Council following an oral report by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict.

Ms. Meirav Eilon-Shahar, Counsellor, delivered a statement highlighting the importance of the issue, while emphasizing the outstanding challenges. "Children are primary victims in many cases of armed conflict. They are its targets and – increasingly – its instruments. While the United Nations has focused on the issue of children and armed conflict since the 1993 Machel report, and in the Security Council with the adoption of resolution 1261 (1999) and 1612 (2005) creating an effective monitoring and reporting mechanism, children are still involved in armed conflict as soldiers, with an alarming increase in cases of sexual violence and the culture of impunity".  

3 July 2008 - Israel delivered a statement during the high-level segment of the opening session of the 2008 session of the Economic and Social Council at UN headquarters in New York.

Addressing the ECOSOC high level, Ambassador Daniel Carmon, Charge d'Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Israel, highlighted the areas of interest for the Israeli delegation. "ECOSOC must demonstrate its commitment to holistically address the global food crisis. The special meeting convened on the issue, participation in the recent summit in Rome, and the task force established by the Secretary-General, are indeed positive steps forward. Yet maintaining an output that meets the global demand remains a challenge. Hence, my delegation suggests an increased focus on agriculture and the development of technology and know-how for the benefit of developed and developing countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa", he said. .

2 July 2008 - Israel wrote a letter of complaint to the President of the Security Council following the terrorist attack in Jerusalem earlier today.

"The timing of this brutal terrorist attack, amidst continued negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, underscores the extent that the extremists will go to murder and maim Israeli civilians and destroy all efforts to secure peace and stability in the region. Moreover, this attack reveals, yet again, the malignant hatred for Israelis and gross zeal to commit acts of violence and terrorism that has disturbingly taken root in some parts of Palestinian society, which greatly threaten the prospects for genuine peace, reconciliation, and mutual understanding. Indeed, Hamas and other terrorist groups have already justified this vicious act of terrorism, inciting others and laying the groundwork for more violence, hatred, and suffering", wrote Ambassador Daniel Carmon, Charge d'Affaires, of the Permanent Mission of Israel.

He went on "to point out that today’s terrorist attack occurred only hundreds of meters away from the Mercaz Harav yeshiva, where on 6 March 2008, a terrorist infiltrated the seminary’s library and study hall and killed eight young men. If you recall, the Council could not reach consensus and condemn that unquestionable act of terrorism due to the political opposition of one Member State in particular. This was in spite of the Secretary-General’s own unqualified condemnation and the efforts of many Council members and the Council’s longstanding practice to condemn terrorism".

24 June 2008 - Israel sent a letter of complaint to the President of the Security Council (United States), informing the membership of the Council about Palestinian rocket attacks which violated the "state of calm" understandings in the Gaza Strip reached only days earlier.

"Palestinian terrorism greatly jeopardizes and undermines the attempt to achieve a lull in violence. While Israel is aware that the “calm” is likely to be fragile and short-lived, as today’s terrorist attack demonstrated, it has asserted its commitment to pursuing every avenue to achieve a non-violent solution. Following today’s violation, Israel will consider future steps", wrote Ambassador Daniel Carmon, Charge d'Affaires, a.i., of the Permanent Mission of Israel.

19 June 2008 - Israel delivered a statement during a special Security Council meeting in connection with resolution 1325 (2000) on "women and peace and security". US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice presided over the meeting, which sought to focus attention on action taken to call on parties to armed conflict to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, and emphasizes the responsibility of states to put an end to impunity.

Ambassador Daniel Carmon, Charge d'Affaires, a.i., of the Permanent Mission of Israel, noted that "While the international community has recognized that sexual violence can amount to a war crime, crimes against humanity, or constitutive acts with respect to genocide, numerous challenges remain to ending sexual violence in situations of armed conflict".

He suggested that "the Council can play a greater role in ensuring that peacekeeping mandates specifically refer to the prevention of sexual violence, that peacekeepers are appropriately trained and informed about sexual violence, and that sanctions and other tools are used against perpetrators".

12 June 2008 - Israel delivered a statement during the President of General Assembly's high level debate on HIV/AIDS.

"While Israel is fortunate to have a low rate of HIV/AIDS," said Mr.Ilan Fluss, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations, " States must also adopt a broad-based approach to combat HIV/AIDS. As an example, the prevention of mother-to-child transmissions, the education of young people about HIV/AIDS, and prevention for sex workers all require distinct modes of communication, and involve different actors in transferring the necessary knowledge and establishing the relevant social infrastructures. We have to put more effort into developing effective and affordable technologies."

"Resolutions on the Arab-Israeli Conflict: 62nd Session of the General Assembly" presents an overview and listing on the annual resolutions adopted in the Assembly concerning Israel.

Though most resolutions are adopted by consensus, the Assembly will vote on some 80 resolutions each year. During the 62nd session, 19 of those resolutions focused on and criticized Israel, in a wholly biased, one-sided, and predetermined manner. These resolutions are usually initiated by members of the Arab Group, and are passed by a wide margin in the General Assembly due to the tendency of Member States to vote in blocs. Arab Group states belong to the two largest blocs, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM – 113 members) and the Group of 77 (G-77 plus China, the developing world –130 members) which, though they overlap in membership, are each composed of a majority of UN Member States, thus creating an “Automatic Majority”. The NAM and G77, as voting blocs, will often offer full support to resolutions presented by their members, thus allowing for easy and immediate adoption of resolutions, including those that defame and attempt to de-legitimize Israel.

More information on the "automatic majority" and the resolutions its passes is available in "Israel and the UN: An Uneasy Relationship". A listing of the one-sided resolutions on the Arab-Israeli conflict from the 61st Session is also available.  

Israel, in some cases, will offer an explanation of vote regarding resolutions and in situations where it wishes the record to reflect its reservations and positions. The following is a list of actions taken thus far on resolutions, and subsequent statements delivered according to Committee, which will be updated accordingly:

Plenary

- Resolutions on Israeli-Palestinian conflict (6 resoutions)

- Resolution on Assistance to the Palestinian people

- General Statement: Adoption of resolution on "Agricultural technology for development" in the General Plenary

First Committee

- Resolution on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

- Resolution on Nuclear Free Weapon Zone in the Middle East

- Resolution on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East

Second Committee

- Resolution on Palestinian natural resources

- Resolution on Lebanese Oil Slick

- Resolution on Agricultural technology for development (on behalf of co-sponsors)

Third Committe

- Resolution on Palestinian self-determination

- Resolution on the PrepComm in follow-up to the Durban conference

- Resolution on the insitution building package of Human Rights Council  

- Resolution on the 2001 Durban conference