United Nations General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann tried – and failed – to prevent Israel's ambassador, Professor Gabriela Shalev, from speaking at a special plenary session marking sixty years since the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The session, which is scheduled for Wednesday, is now expected to become politically charged.
Brockmann tried to cancel all the speeches that were to be given at the session when he learned that Shalev will represent the unofficial regional group known as "Western European and others." The group includes about 30 Western countries including the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Arab countries were reportedly involved in the efforts to prevent Israel's ambassador from speaking, presumably because it would undermine their attempts to portray Israel as a leading human rights violator.
However, European representatives angrily rejected the motion to cancel the speeches.
In response, Brockmann announced that he would add a representative of the Arab bloc and a representative of unaffiliated nations to the list of speakers at the session.
'Israeli apartheid'
Speaking at the annual debate marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People last month, Brockmann said Israel's actions in Judea, Samaria and Gaza were like "the apartheid of an earlier era." He added, "We must not be afraid to call something what it is."
Shalev called Brockmann an "Israel hater" after he hugged Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad following his speech in the United Nations.