Israel agrees to join U.S., Australia anti-whaling coalition
By The Associated Press
Israel has decided to join the coalition of anti-whaling nations that oppose motions to increase whale hunting quotas, the Foreign Ministry and U.S. Embassy confirmed Thursday.
The Israeli decision followed a direct plea from the United States to help it and its allies maintain a 20-year-old moratorium on commercial whaling. Japan, one of only three whaling nations in the world today, along with Norway and Iceland, has been attempting to reverse the ban.
The International Whaling Commission, established in 1949, is a global organization responsible for the management of whaling and the conservation of whales. It currently has 66 signatory nations, split almost evenly between two camps - the pro-whaling nations, led by Japan, and the anti-whaling nations, led by the U.S. and Australia.
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Japanese attempts to reintroduce commercial whaling were narrowly defeated at last year's annual meeting, and both camps have been attempting to shore up support ahead of the annual meeting in May, to be held in St. Kitts and Nevis.
The U.S. and Australia have led the opposition and recently asked Israel to join their side. Israel has no whaling industry and to date has yet to formulate an official policy on the contentious issue, but it is certain to join the anti-whaling bloc.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev confirmed the American request and said, "Israel is responding to concerns of friends and allies." Stewart Tuttle, the U.S. Embassy spokesman in Tel Aviv, said the U.S. ambassador made a personal appeal to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. A formal request also came from the U.S. representative to the whaling commission to the Israeli environment minister, he said.
"The U.S. believes that countries such as Israel can help make a difference in ensuring the long-term conservation of whale species and opposing attempts to weaken or minimize regulations for future whaling operations," Tuttle said.
The Japanese Embassy in Tel Aviv was not immediately available for comment.
The moratorium came into effect in 1986 after centuries of whaling nearly drove several species to extinction.
Japan, like Iceland, says it kills whales to study them before selling the meat, which is allowed under commission rules. Norway holds the world's only commercial whaling season in defiance of the ban, which commission members are free to reject.
Japan maintains that whaling is a national tradition and a vital part of its food culture. It has been attempting to scale back the worldwide moratorium, and increase the number of whales it kills for scientific research.
Valerie Brachya, an Environment Ministry official, said whaling had previously not been high on Israel's agenda. But Israel is committed to global conservation efforts and will support "anything that we would see in a positive light from an environmental point of view," she said.
"Israel is active in international forums and sees itself as part of the global community for the protection of the environment," Brachya said.
Tuttle said Israel's input would be appreciated in the global body.
"Even in the absence of critical marine issues in Israel, the country can export its principles and sound environmental ethic to the IWC to effect change that will be seen for generations to come," he said
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