|
Pakistan Vote for Israel Resolution
Signals Importance of Continued Engagement
New York, NY — In a move that surprised the Muslim community and demonstrated the benefits of relations between Jewish leaders and moderate Muslim leaders, Pakistan voted for a United Nations resolution introduced by Israel at the General Assembly’s Second Committee.
Council for World Jewry Chairman Jack Rosen has played a prominent role in cultivating ties with Muslim governments, and with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in particular. His relationship is widely credited with paving the way for the Pakistani and Israeli foreign Ministers meeting in Istanbul, Turkey in 2005.
“I am delighted that Pakistan, the only Muslim state with nuclear weapons, has decided to support this initiative by the State of Israel,” Mr. Rosen said. “I think this demonstrates the benefits of conversation and the need for continued dialogue between the Jewish community and members of the moderate Muslim world.
The resolution, which passed on December 11, encourages developed countries to make their knowledge and know-how in the field of agricultural technology more accessible to the developing world. It was the first-ever Israeli-initiated resolution adopted by the U.N. Israel is considered a leading expert in agricultural technology, and the resolution is aimed towards assisting African countries in particular.
Pakistan was among 118 countries voting in favor, with only 29 abstentions and 46 absent.
The vote is being described as an “unprecedented diplomatic triumph” by sections of the Israeli media. According to Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Dan Gillerman, “It is not easy for Israel to have its resolutions and its points of view adopted.”
In total, 118 countries voted in favor of the resolution, with 29 abstentions and none against. However, the Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour was quick to criticize the world body for supporting Israel.
While all 19 Arab states present abstained, Pakistan was the largest and most powerful of the 14 Muslim countries that voted for the resolution, with all other Muslim nations abstaining, except for Iran was among those in the absent column.
The American Jewish Congress-Council for World Jewry brings an American voice of support to other nations, and adapts our methods of influencing U.S. policy toward problems in other regions of the world. One of the major goals of CWJ is to build bridges to the Muslim world by pursuing contacts with moderate Muslim political and religious figures in the U.S. and around the world. |
