"THE COMMEMORATION OF THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN 1995"

(Agenda Item 44)

49th Session of the General Assembly
United Nations

9 November 1994
New York

Mr. President,

Almost fifty years ago, the framers of the Charter of the United Nations set great challenges by making a far-reaching commitment to the loftiest ideals of humankind. "To strengthen universal peace.... to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems... and in encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.... [and] to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends."

As we review the past five decades, we can take pride in the UN's impressive accomplishments and progress towards meeting these ideals. Yet we can see that the great task has just begun.

It is an unfortunate fact that only a minority of countries currently enjoy truly democratic systems. While democratization cannot be imposed from the outside, the UN can and should promote education towards democracy. Not only is democracy essential for human rights to be fully respected, but it is also a necessary condition for lasting peace, stability, and economic and social progress.

The United Nations should be especially sensitive to this truth, having been founded in the aftermath of World War II, on the ruins of a world laid waste by the forces of tyranny and fascism.

Mr. President,

It is Israel's hope that the Middle East in its search for peace, stability and prosperity might become a model of hope for the entire international community. Despite many obstacles, we have recently seen in our region great progress towards a brighter future. This progress is based on direct, bilateral negotiations between parties who desire to replace conflict with cooperation.

The peace process began with a conference held in Madrid, co- sponsored by the United States and the Russian Federation. It was followed by bilateral negotiations on several tracks, and by multilateral talks and the Casablanca Conference that are enhancing regional cooperation to create a better economic and social reality for all peoples of the Middle East.

As the prospects for peace grow, there is a need to devote more resources to social and economic development in the region. The United Nations, through such agencies as UNDP, UNRWA and UNICEF, has been contributing to meet the basic needs of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Now, these and other agencies are making increased efforts in cooperation with Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the donor countries to change the human, social and economic realities in these areas. Such a change is a necessary basis for a changed state of mind, one marked by an unflagging commitment to peaceful coexistence. The United Nations role in the Middle East during the next fifty years will necessarily be affected by these far-reaching changes.

Mr. President,

Over the past five decades, the relationship between Israel and the United Nations has known both high and low points. The realities of Cold War politics created an automatic majority in the General Assembly that would support almost any initiative, no matter how outrageous, which was designed to single out Israel for condemnation. These moves tried to make Israel an outcast from among the family of nations. It is our hope that this blemish on the record of the UN will remind all States of the dangers of abusing this forum of peace. By repealing in 1991 the resolution which libeled Zionism as a form of racism, the General Assembly took an important step in demonstrating that this lesson is being taken to heart.

Israel has a noble debt to the United Nations. It was the UN which, on 29 November 1947, adopted a resolution that restored sovereignty to the Jewish people after two thousand years of exile from their land. Then, on 11 May 1949, the General Assembly welcomed the new State of Israel as a Member State of the United Nations.

Following the 1967 Six Day War, the Security Council adopted resolution 242, which affirms the right of every State in the area "to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force." The Security Council reaffirmed this right in resolution 338, adopted during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

In the light of the historic steps towards peace in our region, Israel has encouraged the General Assembly to avoid adopting anachronistic resolutions detached from the new reality. We welcome the progress that has already been made the adoption of resolution 48/58, which welcomed the Middle East peace process and the agreements between Israel and the PLO and Israel and Jordan; the removal of contentious language and issues from other resolutions on the Middle East; and the elimination of obsolete resolutions that were contrary to the new reality. We look forward to further progress in this area, which would be a constructive expression of the United Nations' commitment to the Middle East peace process begun in Madrid.

Mr. President,

Israel is pleased that its national preparations for the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations are taking place in an atmosphere of increasing cooperation and improved relations between Israel and the UN. Our commemoration, which will include the printing of a fiftieth anniversary postage stamp, and the convening of an international conference, will devote special attention to cultural and educational activities aimed at informing the Israeli public about the recent positive developments in Israel-UN relations, and calling for Israel's active participation in the UN system.

Israel looks forward to increased involvement in United Nations activities. Over the past year, Israel has participated in the civilian and humanitarian spheres in peace-keeping activities in Rwanda and Haiti, and in election-monitoring in South Africa and Mozambique, and has contributed in other areas as well. For the first time in over thirty years, Israeli candidates were elected in direct and personal elections to serve in UN committees and bodies.

Unfortunately, Israel has been refused membership in a geographic group at the UN, and is thus barred from membership in all UN bodies in which the elections are based upon regional quotas of representation. As the UN enters a new stage in its existence, we again urge our fellow Member States to rectify this grave breach of the principle of universality and to help ensure respect for the sovereign equality of all Member States as envisioned in the Charter of the United Nations.

Mr. President,

In ancient Israel, every fiftieth year was celebrated as a year of liberty and renewal. In Hebrew, it is called "yovel," from which derives the English word "jubilee." As it is written in Leviticus, 25.9, (Hebrew) "Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound.... And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof."

May the jubilee of the United Nations mark a year of renewal for the Organization. May it be a year of peace and abundance, proclaiming liberty throughout all the world unto all the inhabitants thereof.

Thank you, Mr. President.