OIC and ISESCO condemn Israel’s election to UN decolonisation committee

Two major Islamic organisations have condemned the election of Israel to the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation.

The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) and the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation said in separate statements that electing Israel to the vice-presidency of the General Assembly’s Fourth Committee which addresses political decolonisation issues contradicts the Commission’s principles.

ISESCO called the United Nations to review its decision which negatively impacts the UN’s credibility and integrity. ISESCO considers electing Israel, which “occupies Palestinian land and oppresses the Palestinian people with its racist practices”, contradicts the Commission’s credibility and pointed out that Israel itself refuses to respect the Committee’s resolutions related to the Israeli occupation and violates the United Nations resolutions on ending the occupation.

The Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation Iyad Madani said: “Electing Israel, the occupying power, contradicts with the Committee’s credibility.” Madani pointed out that “Israel continues to systematically practice illegal and racist policies against the Palestinian people and refuses to apply the Committee’s decisions relating to the Israeli occupation and violates United Nations resolutions in this regard.”

On Wednesday, the Fourth Committee elected the Israeli diplomat Mordechai Amichai, as one of three vice-chairs for the 69th session, which begins mid-September. The Western European and Others Group, headed by Britain, nominated Israel for the post.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said it was not possible to know the countries that voted in favour of electing the Israeli diplomat for the UN post or the countries that abstained or those which rejected since the ballot was done in secret.