Prosor: UDI Won't Change Anything
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UN Ambassador Briefs Atlantans

  • 8/12/2011
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    In a rare visit, Israel’s newly appointed Ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor, Israel’s former Ambassador to the United Kingdom and the former Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  travelled to Atlanta to address various audiences on the current issues affecting Israel in the United Nations.  The specific mission of Ambassador Prosor’s visit to Atlanta was to address a major political challenge that Israel will face at the United Nations in September. As of now, the Palestinian leadership is planning to pursue a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) at the United Nations, rather than negotiating directly with Israel for a two-state solution, to live side by side in peace.

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    Ambassador Ron Prosor Ambassador Ron Prosor Copyright: Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast
     
     

    In an open lecture hosted at Ahavath Achim Synagogue, Ambassador Prosor conveyed the true ramifications of a General Assembly vote on Palestinian independence. Prosor warned the audience that the vote could increase the frustration of the Palestinian people and lead to a violent uprising. “The Unilateral Declaration of Independence will not change anything on the ground,” said Ambassador Prosor. “Winning a majority in the General Assembly is no more than symbolic, but the accumulated affects of these symbolic actions will grant the Palestinians the ability to approach other international forums and impose a settlement from outside Israel. This will lead to violence and not peace,” said Prosor.

    The United States has publically shared its intentions on voting against this action in the Security Council; however, the Palestinians are poised to win a majority of support in the General Assembly. Ambassador Prosor stated that Israel’s strategy at the UN is to obtain a “moral minority” of countries to dissuade such unilateral efforts by the Palestinians and to advocate for direct negotiations between the parties, leading to a resolution of “two states for two people”.

    Ambassador Prosor also discussed the movement to isolate Israel from the family of nations in the U.N. “We have today ‘lawfare,’” said Prosor, “our enemies are trying to hit us in the soft belly through the courts. They are trying to deny us our right to self defense.” Prosor specifically referred to a UN Human Rights Council Agenda Item that was passed just days after beginning his tenure at the UN. Agenda Item 7 – to deal specifically with just human rights violations in Israel. The Ambassador stated that “we are the only country that enjoys such special treatment.” Indeed, there is no such Agenda Item in the UN Human Rights Council that exists for any other country. All human rights violations in the world are brought before the Council under Agenda Item 4.

    Despite the ongoing challenges facing Israel in the United Nations, Prosor spoke about the rewards of representing Israel. Prosor spoke proudly about Israeli initiatives that are making life easier for people all over the world. Prosor mentioned China’s admiration for Israel after Israelis shared milk producing technology with Chinese dairy farmers. “Israel is doing amazing stuff in the world. I walk tall and proud because I know what we stand for – a democratic and vibrant state,” said Prosor.

     
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