Why is Israel a part of the United Nations?

Answer 1

The questioner's calendar is running slow.

Israel was admitted as a new member of the United Nations, by majority vote of the 58 existing members, in May of 1949, just about 1 year after the new nation was born. That's more than 60 years ago, and only a couple of years after the UN itself was founded. The resolution recognized that as a peace-loving nation, Israel embodied the principles of the world organization.

As concerns the UN Security Council, Israel was de factobut not de jure denied a rotating seat on account of the mechanisms that bring such states to have seats. Each region of the world is united as an unofficial group and the Asia-Pacific Group (to which Israel would have geographically belonged) has withheld Israeli membership on account of the large number of Muslim States opposed to Israel. Therefore in 2000, Israel became a temporary member of the Western Europe and Others Group (which includes other Western but non-European countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand). The membership became a permanent renewal in 2004.

Answer 2

Because it was Voted in by the Members of the United Nations.

Israel was officially made a member of the United Nations on May 11, 1949 by UNGA Resolution 273. It is worth noting that many anti-Zionists refer to the discussion of UNGA Resolutions 181 and 194 in the Recalling paragraph and insist that this imposes a conditionality on Israel's membership to the United Nations (i.e. that if Israel does not immediately perform the requirements of 181 or 194 that Israel can be ejected from the UN). This is a false reading since there is no discussion of conditionality per se in the resolution. Additionally, the words of the Preamble do not hold as obligations. Only numbers 1 & 2 below hold actual legal weight and do not mention any connection to UNGA Resolutions 181 or 194.

The public text of UNGA Resolution 273 is below:

Having received the report of the Security Council on the application of Israel for membership in the United Nations,

Noting that, in the judgment of the Security Council, Israel is a peace-loving State and is able and willing to carry out the obligations contained in the Charter,

Noting that the Security Council has recommended to the general Assembly that it admit Israel to membership in the United Nations,

Noting furthermore the declaration by the State of Israel that it "unreservedly accepts the obligations of the United Nations Charter and undertakes to honour them from the day when it becomes a member of the United Nations",

Recalling its resolutions of 29 November 1947 (UNGA Resolution 181 II) and 11 December 1948 (UNGA Resolution 194) and taking note of the declarations and explanations made by the representative of the Government of Israel before the Ad Hoc Political Committee in respect of the implementation of the said resolutions,

The General Assembly,

Acting in discharge of its functions under Article 4 of the Charter and rule 125 of its rules of procedure,

1. Decides that Israel is a peace loving State which accepts the obligations contained in the Charter and is able and willing to carry out those obligations;

2. Decides to admit Israel to membership in the United Nations