Israel: Israel has provided reasons behind its decision that saw it vote against Ghana's resolution for slavery to be declared the gravest crime against humanity, stating it did so with 'regret'.
According to Ghana Web, Israel explained the basis of its decision in an official explanation shared on the embassy's Facebook page on March 27, 2026. The explanation indicated that their opposition was primarily due to concerns over how the resolution framed the transatlantic slave trade and slavery in relation to other historical atrocities. Israel expressed that the wording of the resolution as 'the gravest crime against humanity' was a key concern.
The statement from Israel read, '... We regret that we are unable to support the resolution as adopted. This is mainly because the resolution defines the trafficking and enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.' Israel clarified its position by stressing that it does not support ranking crimes against humanity.
Israel further emphasized, 'While we fully recognize the unparalleled scale and cruelty of these crimes, we cannot accept language that effectively establishes a hierarchy among crimes against humanity.' It highlighted the implications of such wording, warning that it could undermine the recognition of other atrocities, specifically mentioning the Jewish Holocaust by the Nazis and other criminal acts.
'Such formulations risk diminishing the gravity of other atrocities, including the Jewish Holocaust by the Nazis, as well as other crimes that have caused immense human suffering,' Israel explained. Restating its regret over the decision, Israel maintained that its vote was based on principle and not disregard for slavery.
Israel added, 'For this reason, Israel had to vote against the resolution. We did so with regret. Our opposition does not reflect a lack of recognition of the horrors of slavery or its legacy, but rather stems from principled concerns regarding the text as it stands.' The country also expressed disappointment at the outcome of the negotiations, indicating that revisions were not made to accommodate broader support.
'We sincerely regret that adjustments were not made during the negotiation process that could have enabled broader support, including from Israel,' it stated. Reaffirming its broader commitment, Israel concluded by stressing its stance against racism and its dedication to preserving historical truth.
'Israel remains committed to combating racism, preserving historical truth, and ensuring that all crimes against humanity are remembered and addressed without hierarchy or politicization,' it concluded. Israel was among three other countries that voted against the resolution, including the United States of America (USA) and Argentina. Despite their opposition, the resolution was passed with the majority of 123 member states voting in favor of the resolution, and 53 member states also abstaining.