Israel withdrew on Friday from a race against Germany and Belgium for two seats of the UN Security Council in 2019-2020.
The 193-member UN General Assembly is due to vote in June on five new members for a two-year term starting on 1st January 2019. Israel Germany and Belgium were competing for two seats allocated to the Western European and Others group.
Germany and Belgium are now running uncontested but they still need to win more than two-thirds of the overall General Assembly vote to be elected.
“It was decided that we will continue to act with our allies to allow for Israel to realize its right for full participation and inclusion in decision-making processes at the UN” Israel’s mission to the UN said in a statement.
A UN source speaking on condition of anonymity said that Israel had withdrawn because of its low chances of winning.
