News
Israeli serving at UN peacekeeping department for first time
It has been confirmed that for the first time, an Israeli officer is serving in the United Nations’ (UN) Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
Ynet reports that Major Jonathan Conricus has been serving at the department’s headquarters in New York for the past eighteen months and is responsible for collecting intelligence to be used by UN peacekeeping forces in conflict zones, such as Somalia, Nigeria and Ukraine.
Israel routinely sends humanitarian missions, including IDF emergency teams, to disaster zones across the world. They have provided aid and relief in Haiti and Turkey following devastating earthquakes and in Philippines in the aftermath of a deadly tycoon. Following a massive earthquake in Nepal last year, a 260-strong IDF Home Command team set up a field hospital staffed by 122 doctors, nurses and paramedics, operating an emergency room, operating theatres, X-ray facilities and a room for expectant mothers.
However, until Conricus’ appointment, no Israeli had been included as part of the UN’s peacekeeping force. Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon said “We are very proud of the Israeli representatives at UN institutions.” He also gave a wider perspective on Israel’s role helping the UN’s humanitarian work, saying “technology for protecting peacekeeping troops, professional consultation on legal matters, and major healthcare aid are only part of Israel’s assistance for the UN’s humanitarian purposes.”
Several of the UN institutions are widely regarded as being hostile towards Israel, especially the Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which will meet today to discuss several motions condemning Israel. They will be discussed under Agenda Item 7, which mandates a debate on Israel at each UNHRC session. No other country is subject to such a mandate. Among the motions to be debated, one calls for Israel to return the Golan Heights to Syria. While today’s debate takes place, a protest in support of Israel will take place opposite the UNHRC headquarters in Geneva. The rally will be headlined by Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid.