After a series of complex procedural moves in the General Assembly’s Special Political Committee, which for more than five weeks has been debating the Republic of South Africa’s policy of racial discrimination as embodied in South Africa’s Apartheid policy, Israel is on record today as favoring diplomatic and economic sanctions against the Republic of South Africa.
At the same time, however, Israel is on record against discussion by the Security Council of the possible expulsion of South Africa from membership in the United Nations. The committee, which was still listening to explanations of the votes by the 103 delegations today, also heard Israel’s explanations of its attitude following the voting of along session yesterday afternoon, when a total of 18 separate votes were taken, most of them by formal roll call.
Ambassador Arieh Eshel, deputy chairman of Israel’s delegation here and Israel’s representative on the committee, cast the vote against consideration of South Africa’s expulsion and for the sanctions against South Africa. Mr. Eshel, however, abstained on an amendment, introduced by Pakistan, which would call on members of the United Nations to refrain from selling petroleum to South Africa.
Israel abstained on another amendment, introduced by the Soviet Union, which would prohibit the export by any UN member of arms to South Africa. Mr. Eshel explained that it is Israel’s “declared policy” to refrain from sending arms to any country when such arms could be used directly or indirectly “in a situation of colonial oppression.” In connection with Israel’s abstention on the Soviet amendment, it was understood Israel did not want to make such a vital issue as racial discrimination a part of the cold war.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
