Israel Elected To Head UN Space Committee

An Israeli representative was elected by the United Nations General Assembly to sit on the international body’s Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). Keren Shahar, currently the Director of the Treaties Department in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will serve on the steering bureau, thus making the Jewish state one of six countries to lead the organization. Israel two years ago joined COPUOS which is charged with “reviewing international cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space, encouraging space research, and studying legal problems arising from the exploration of outer space.” The appointment comes despite intense efforts by the Palestinians and other Arab countries to harpoon Israel’s bid. Last year, UN Ambassador Danny Danon became the first-ever Israeli voted by the UNGA to lead one of its half dozen permanent groups, the Sixth Committee, which focuses on legal issues. Ironically, Jerusalem recently announced it would follow the lead of U.S. President Donald Trump and pull out of UNESCO, the UN cultural organization best known for designating world heritage sites.