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Israel to Withdraw Bid for UN Security Council Seat

The United Nations Security Council sits to meet on North Korea after their latest missile test, at the U.N. headquarters in New York City, US, September 4, 2017. REUTERS/Joe Penney
The United Nations Security Council sits to meet on North Korea after their latest missile test, at the U.N. headquarters in New York City, US, September 4, 2017. REUTERS/Joe Penney
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Israel to Withdraw Bid for UN Security Council Seat

The United Nations Security Council sits to meet on North Korea after their latest missile test, at the U.N. headquarters in New York City, US, September 4, 2017. REUTERS/Joe Penney
The United Nations Security Council sits to meet on North Korea after their latest missile test, at the U.N. headquarters in New York City, US, September 4, 2017. REUTERS/Joe Penney

Israel is considering whether to withdraw its bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council that it had hoped to secure for the first time this June, after majority of European countries rejected its candidacy, according to diplomatic sources in Tel Aviv.

Israeli government had been hoping the new US administration led by President Donald Trump and the US ambassador Nikki Haley will increase its chances in securing the seat.

Europe objected the proposal and intends to nominate Germany or Belgium.

Elections at UN’s bodies are done according to regional affiliations. Between 1949 and 2000, Israel belonged to the “Asia-Pacific Group”, where an Arab majority automatically opposed any effort on Israel’s behalf to serving on the council.

In 2000, the UN agreed to shift Israel into the “Western Europe and Other Group”, allowing it to contend for one of the two spots reserved on the council for the bloc. Back then, European countries promised the Prime Minister Ehud Barak that Israel will be elected later for the membership of the council in the name of this group, especially after he promised to achieve peace with Palestinians.

Security Council has five permanent members and ten temporary members that are replaced every two years.

In order to win a seat on the influential council, a nation must get the support of two-thirds of the UN General Assembly. Israel's group include 28 countries and is represented currently by Sweden and Holland, whose memberships end in 2018.

Currently, three countries are competing for the two seats: Germany, Belgium, and Israel. These countries rejected diplomatic efforts by Israeli representatives asking that they withdraw their candidacy.

To win a seat, a country must receive at least two-thirds of the votes in the UN General Assembly, but it is known that most UN members reject attempts to promote Israel for its policies and activities against Palestinians.

Elections are set to take place next June and Israeli government backed by the US administration began a campaign to increase its chances. However, their attempts were futile and officials at Israeli foreign ministry admit that their chances are low and there is not enough time left to achieve their goal.

Although Israel has not officially announced its withdrawal, it is aware that its chances of winning the seat are low.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet finalized his decision on the matter, but the Foreign Ministry has expressed a wish to quit the race because of the improbability of a win, according to a senior official familiar with the matter.

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Arab World

Lebanese Govt Approaches Hezbollah Arms File Without Decisions

In this photo, released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, center foreground, and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, right, head a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)
In this photo, released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, center foreground, and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, right, head a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)
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Lebanese Govt Approaches Hezbollah Arms File Without Decisions

In this photo, released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, center foreground, and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, right, head a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)
In this photo, released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, center foreground, and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, right, head a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)

Lebanon’s government addressed the contentious issue of Hezbollah’s weapons
and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 with no concrete decisions made during the recent cabinet discussions.
Government sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Lebanese Forces bloc demanded that timeline for the disarmament of Hezbollah be set, but there was no response to their demand. Other ministers argued that the matter of exclusive state control over weapons is already addressed in the government's ministerial statement.

Moreover, and in a gesture underscoring its commitment to international cooperation, the government approved the extension of the mandate for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), highlighting Lebanon’s “keenness on partnership with the international community to maintain stability.”
It also reported 2,740 Israeli violations since the ceasefire agreement was put in place.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, government sources said that President Joseph Aoun has vowed to discuss the matter of setting a timeline to disarm Hezbollah with the relevant parties, and will report the outcome of his consultations back to the cabinet.

Following the cabinet session, Information Minister Paul Morcos reaffirmed the government's commitment to asserting state authority over all Lebanese territory. He underscored the need to bolster the Lebanese Army amid growing security challenges—particularly in the south, where the army continues to carry out its duties despite repeated Israeli aggressions.

The Minister stated that Army Commander General Rodolph Haikal delivered a security briefing during the meeting, outlining ongoing operations and the army's position. Haikal stressed Lebanon’s full commitment to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, in contrast to Israel’s repeated violations, which, he said, hinder the army’s deployment and the extension of state authority in the region.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701 calls for the Lebanese Army’s deployment south of the Litani River and the removal of all unauthorized armed groups.

Despite limited resources, Morcos noted, the army “continues to fulfill its duties under difficult conditions”.
Industry Minister, Joe Issa el-Khoury, said after the cabinet meeting at Baabda Palace that ministers of the Lebanese Forces bloc raised the issue of setting a six-month timeline for the handover of all illegal weapons—both Lebanese and non-Lebanese. They proposed beginning the process with the Palestinian refugee camps.
Morco also announced that the Cabinet approved the extension of the UNIFIL mandate in southern Lebanon, stressing the Lebanese state’s commitment to its partnership with the international community in preserving stability.

For his part, President Aoun, at the onset of the session, described his meeting with Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Tamim Al-Thani, in Doha as “fruitful and excellent,” revealing that a Qatari delegation may visit Lebanon next week to discuss the electricity file.
Aoun also thanked the Intelligence Directorate and General Security for arresting members of a cell involved in rocket launches from southern Lebanon. He expressed hope that the cell recently dismantled in Jordan—whose members admitted to receiving training in Lebanon—will be fully unraveled.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, for his part, spoke about his recent visit to Syria. He said four major issues were discussed: securing and eventually demarcating the Lebanese-Syrian border, the case of Lebanese detainees who disappeared in Syria, Lebanese nationals wanted by authorities who are currently in Syria, and the issue of Syrian prisoners held in Lebanon.
Salam underscored that some of the most pressing matters discussed was the return of Syrian refugees back to their homeland, and the need to lift sanctions on Syria in order to facilitate this process.
The visit also included an official request for information related to the Beirut port explosion.