Israeli resolution renewed at General Assembly over Arab protests

The resolution, number A/69/468 DR II called “Entrepreneurship for Development,” is one of two Israeli resolutions.

By MAYA SHWAYDER, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT
A vote in the United Nations Security Council headquarters in New York (photo credit: REUTERS)
A vote in the United Nations Security Council headquarters in New York
(photo credit: REUTERS)
NEW YORK – An Israeli resolution scored 133 yes votes in the UN General Assembly on Friday and 102 co-sponsors, over the objections of most of the Arab countries; 29 countries voted no, and seven abstained.
The resolution, number A/69/468 DR II called “Entrepreneurship for Development,” is one of two Israeli resolutions – this one was originally introduced in 2012 – that are up for renewal every two years. This renewal by marks a rare victory for Israel in the General Assembly.
The second resolution, called “Agriculture Technology for Development” and originally adopted in 2007, will be up for renewal in December 2015.
The Entrepreneurship for Development resolution aims to foster a better environment for startup businesses and entrepreneurs worldwide, by increasing funding for these small businesses and decreasing the amounts of government bureaucracy entrepreneurs have to deal with. It also mandates UN agencies in various countries to empower entrepreneurs.
“Israelis are known as leaders in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation, and it is important for us to share our knowledge and expertise with people around the world,” said Israeli delegation counsellor Hadas Meitzad in a statement.
“We are proud to support the creation of conditions that will allow aspiring entrepreneurs to innovate and thrive.”
“Creating opportunities for entrepreneurs leads to greater opportunities for everyone,” Ambassador Ron Prosor said in a statement. “The Israeli Mission to the UN has worked very hard to pass the entrepreneurship resolution, and today our message is clear: our adversaries may seek to undermine our contribution, but we will continue to succeed.”
Israel hopes these resolution will have a hand in shaping the post-2015 UN agenda once the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals has expired. According to the UN Development Program, only three of the eight broad categories for the 2015 MDGs will be met on time. Earlier this month, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon briefed the press on a new report called “The Road to Dignity,” which outlines a new set of 17 goals to achieve by 2030 categorized into six “essential elements”: dignity, people, prosperity, our planet, justice, and partnership “I stressed the need for a renewed global partnership for development,” Ban said.
“Resources, technology, and political will are crucial not only for implementing the agenda once it is adopted, but even now, to build trust as member states negotiate its final parameters.
At a panel discussion on the Entrepreneurship for Development resolution in early November, Prosor said, “Entrepreneurship can be the key to unlocking the world’s most pressing problems. In Israel, we say that ideas are worth a dime a dozen. People who put them into action are priceless.”