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An Israeli official has been elected to the United Nations General Assembly’s independent audit advisory committee for the first time.
Shay Mizrahi, a senior official at Israel's state comptroller's office, was elected with 134 votes, despite the heightened tensions between Israel and the international body, and will serve a three-year term.
The committee of five members advises the UN general assembly on matters of oversight, including audits, risk management and financial reporting.
The office of the state comptroller of Israel, which audits the government’s financial activities, described Mizrahi’s selection as an “international achievement” in a post on X.
It said: “Despite these challenging diplomatic times, Mizrahi’s candidacy won the support of 134 countries... Mizrahi's election is a powerful testament to the international reputation of Israel's public audit sector. Wishing you success in this new role, Shay! We are all rooting for you!”
Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, welcomed the appointment, saying: “At a time when Israel faces repeated attempts at exclusion and delegitimisation within UN institutions, this appointment demonstrates that Israeli professionalism, experience, and excellence continue to earn international recognition and appreciation.”
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