Despite Arab states’ attempt to block Israeli initiative

, Israel’s UN ambassador holds special event showcasing Israeli products & technology in bid to aid developing countries.

By Yitzhak Benhorin

WASHINGTON – Arab states have failed to block Israel from leading a UN conference in which advanced tools would be showcased for developing countries.

UN Sec. Gen Ban Ki-moon with Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor and others at the Blue & White Conference – Photo: Shachar Azran

Despite the fact that 141 countries voted in favor of the event a number of weeks ago, opponents from Tunisia, Bahrain and Kuwait luanched Wednesday a last ditch effort to block the event, but failed. 

“Israel is a young and dynamic country,” Prosor said, adding that Israel has chosen to promote the forum not on Wall Street but in the UN. Representatives from 141 countries backed the event, which, according to Prosor, will introduce Israeli technology and creativity to the world.

The Israeli proposal was intended to allow any state, regardless of whether it has diplomatic ties with Israel, to take advantage of modern technologies and Israeli knowhow in fields such as advanced agriculture, bio-medical technologies, science and a wide array of additional fields.

Among those who were in support of the event were states that do not have any ties with Israel.

Despite calls for boycott, the event will take place as planned, and will be host to UN Sec. Gen Ban Ki-moon, UN General Assembly President Vuk Jeremić and Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor – who was the driving force behind the initiative. 

During the conference, Israel’s successes in the fields of agriculture, solar energy and medical equipment were discussed. Experts from around the world came to listen and learn from the Israeli model of entrepreneurship, which the UN is scheduled to use in 2015 as the central model for UN-supported development in the third world.

Also participating in the event were panelists from around the world, and representing Israel was chemistry Nobel-laureate Prof. Dan Shechtman.

View original Ynet publication at: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4397621,00.html