28 Oct 2002

Israel wants Palau voting at the United Nations

2:50 pm on 28 October 2002

An Israeli diplomat visiting Palau has said he would like to see that country casting votes at the United Nations.

The Canberra based Ambassador to the region, Gabby Levy, was on an annual visit to the north Pacific nations of Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.

During the trip he said that he was hopeful arrangements could be made to get Palau voting regularly at the UN.

Since becoming UN members in the early nineties, both the Marshall Islands and the FSM have been staunch supporters of Israel.

Mr Levy said the UN allows proxy votes to be cast and he was delighted that both the Marshalls and FSM have said they would be happy to carry Palau's proxy vote.