Foreign Ministry encourages Israelis to volunteer for the UN

UNV looks for candidates in a wide variety of fields from human rights to medical professionals and civil engineers.

By HERB KEINON
united nations UN 88 (photo credit: Courtesy)
united nations UN 88
(photo credit: Courtesy)
In a sign of improving relations with the United Nations, the Foreign Ministry is embarking on a campaign to encourage Israelis to volunteer for various UN bodies as part of a UN volunteers (UNV) recruitment surge. The UNV has issued a call for volunteers to support its peacekeeping operations around the world, and is looking for candidates in a wide variety of fields from human rights to medical professionals and civil engineers. The candidates must be over 25, have a university degree or relevant technical diploma, and be fluent in either English or French. Successful applicants must make at least a six-month commitment, and will receive a living stipend. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Hayat said that the ministry feels that "by involving Israelis in the UN, we can improve the relations between the UN and Israel." He said that currently there was very little participation by Israelis in the various UN frameworks. For further information on volunteering for UN programs, log onto the Foreign Ministry's Hebrew Web site at www.mfa.gov.il or the UNV Web site at www.unv.org.