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Israel to chair United Nations' legal committee for first time

This will give Israel a chance to play a role in routine affairs at the United Nations as the legal committee oversees issues related to international law.

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Israel will head one of the world body's six permanent committees first time since joining the UN in 1949
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Israel on Monday won an election to chair the United Nations' legal committee, the first time that it will head one of the world body's six permanent committees since joining the UN in 1949.

While it is a largely symbolic and procedural role, chairing the committee will give Israel a chance to play a higher profile role in routine affairs at the United Nations. The so-called Legal Committee, or Sixth Committee, oversees issues related to international law. The General Assembly has six standing committees that report to it - on disarmament, economic and financial issues, human rights, decolonisation, the UN budget, and legal issues.

"I am proud to be the first Israeli elected to this position," Israel UN Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement. "Israel is a world leader in international law and in fighting terrorism," he added. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to share our knowledge with the countries of the world."

Israel was a candidate for the regional Western European and Others Group (WEOG) and received a comfortable majority of votes - 109 out of 175 valid votes cast in the 193-nation assembly. Sweden was runner-up with 10 votes. Israel was originally part of the Asia-Pacific Group along with other Middle Eastern and Asian nations, the majority of which are cool or openly hostile towards the Israeli state. Its transfer to WEOG gave it a chance to get elected to leadership posts and play a more active role at the UN.

The chief Palestinian delegate at the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, complained about the results of the election, saying Arab and Muslim countries had tried to prevent an Israeli victory. Mansour described Israel as "the biggest violator of international law" and predicted that Danon's election was "threatening the work of the Sixth Committee."

He said the Arab League and 57 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation had opposed Israel's election. 

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