(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host on Sunday 10 February 2008 a simulation of the General Assembly of the United Nations, within the framework of the Model United Nations for Jerusalem high schools. Model United Nations is an international project, held in many countries around the world, in which 11th and 12th grade students represent various member states of the U.N. and simulate the General Assembly and committee debates. Through participation in the project, students around the world learn about the work of the United Nations, as well as international conflicts and global problems faced by the member states.
During the months of preparation, prior to the General Assembly, the students study the UN model rules of conduct, as well as the methodology of the work of a diplomat: rules of behavior, rules of speech and debate, public speaking, drafting resolutions, negotiation and even dress code.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs first initiated the project last year, in cooperation with the Hebrew University High School in Jerusalem and the Jerusalem Education Administration. This year, the tradition continues, and several new sponsors have been added to the inititative. Among these are the Jerusalem Foundation, this year's main sponsor, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Our goal is to encourage the Israeli public - and in this case, the youth - to learn about the UN, to understand international events, norms and treaties, and everything else the UN represents. It is our intention to improve the perception of the UN by the Israeli public, as this is the primary condition to improving Israel's image in the UN and around the world.
Ten high schools from the capital, including one Arab school from Beit Safafa, will participate in the simulation this year. Some 180 students will represent 30 countries and debate various diplomatic issues, including the conflict between Hamas and Fatah, the genocide in Darfur, population explosion in Eastern Asia as well as other issues, simulating the debate of the United Nations General Assembly, the Security Council, the Committee for Human Rights, etc.
According to Mr. Ron Adam, director of the UN Political Affairs Department, who initiated the program, the aim of the simulation is to expose the students to the work of the United Nations, to enable them to understand the international system, international conflicts and various global problems faced by the member states.
Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni, former UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, and the commander of the UN forces in Jerusalem will address the opening ceremony.
The role of the UN Secretary General will be simulated by Dafna Benvenisti, a student at the Hebrew University High School, who has recently returned from Qatar where she represented Israel in an international Model United Nations project.