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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Office of Public Information JCPA CHAIR WELCOMES SPAIN'S SUPPORT OF ISRAEL'S WEOG CANDIDACY February 27, 2000 – Baltimore, MD – Speaking at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs annual plenum, JCPA chair Steven Schwarz reported that King Juan Carlos of Spain said that the Spanish government will now agree to support Israel’s inclusion in the Western European and Others Group (WEOG) at the UN. Schwarz learned of these developments on a conference call with a select group of Jewish leaders and Vice President Al Gore. This agreement is seen as a key element in Israel’s effort to become a member of the group. Israel has long been the only UN member-state excluded from a regional group, and its inclusion in WEOG would help normalize its status at the UN. Membership in a regional group is required for full participation in UN committees and activities. Only members of regional groups can be elected to the Security Council and various key committees of the world body. Geographically, Israel belongs in the Asian group, but its membership there has long been blocked. As a result of its inability to join the Asian group, Israel has sought membership in WEOG, which is comprised of Western democracies from the U.S. to Australia. JCPA chair Steven Schwarz welcomed the development. "Hopefully, Israel will soon find its rightful place in the UN system. In the meantime, it is our hope that this agreement will expeditiously lead to Israel’s admission into WEOG, and to full participation in the UN." ### The Jewish Council for Public Affairs is the public affairs arm of the organized Jewish community and serves as the national coordinating and advisory body for the 13 national and 122 local agencies comprising the field of Jewish community relations. |
