Israel Joins the Board of UNICEF
Communicated by MFA Spokesperson’s Bureau
Israel’s term as a member of the Board of Directors of UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) begins on January 1,
2013. This is the third time Israel will be serving on the board of this important and prestigious organization – after
a hiatus of more than 40 years.
UNICEF, which operates in approximately 200 countries, is an international humanitarian organization concerned with
children’s welfare, providing children around the world with clean water, proper nutrition, education, emergency relief
in disaster areas, etc.
The organization was founded in 1946 by the United Nations at the initiative of Dr. Ludwik Rajchman, a Polish Jewish
doctor. Dr. Rajchman’s original idea, to tend to the needs of children in war-torn Europe during World War II, developed
into an international organization that set as its purpose to aid all children everywhere.
The connection between UNICEF and Israel began in 1948, when the organization answered a call to provide humanitarian
aid to the new state and to supply food, blankets, vaccines and medical equipment for the care of children and their
mothers.
Later, from 1951 to 1959, Israel served on the UNICEF Board of Directors in the capacity of a developing country. In
1955, Israel chaired the Board, in the person of Ms. Zina Harman, wife of Israel’s ambassador to the United States and a
member (until 1955) of the Israeli delegation to the UN.
Ms. Harman represented Israel on the UNICEF Executive Board from 1963 to 1965, accepting a Nobel Peace Prize in 1965 on
behalf of the organization. In 1969, she founded the Israeli Fund for UNICEF, a volunteer-led education and fundraising
organization. By this time, Israel, once aided by UNICEF, had become one of its supporters, joining a long list of
Western member states.
Israel maintains excellent relations with UNICEF. The Israeli Fund for UNICEF, from its office in Tel Aviv, has raised
millions of shekels for the organization’s activities for the benefit of the world’s children. Israel is also a partner
with the organization in various aid programs geared for third-world countries.
Israel will serve on the UNICEF Board for twelve months and Israel’s delegates – Foreign Ministry staff – intend to take
an active role in the discussions and management of the organization.
ENDS