A Jewish Woman Could Head the UN – What It Means for Israel

Costa Rican candidate Rebecca Greenspan, of Jewish descent, has become the frontrunner for UN Secretary-General after the first Security Council vote, where she received support from 10 members. Experts believe her appointment is unlikely to change UN policy toward Israel, though she may influence the tone of statements and mediation initiatives.

Rebecca Greenspan, a candidate from Costa Rica, has become the leading contender for the post of UN Secretary-General after the first informal vote in the Security Council. She was supported by 10 Council members, one opposed, and four abstained. Greenspan is 70 years old, born in Costa Rica to a family of Polish Jews who survived the Holocaust. She studied economics, including at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, served as Vice President of Costa Rica and Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, and has headed UNCTAD since 2021. Despite her Jewish background, experts believe her appointment is unlikely to drastically change UN policy toward Israel, as key decisions are made by member states. However, the new leader could influence the tone of statements and mediation initiatives. UNCTAD, led by Greenspan, has previously published reports criticizing the consequences of the war in Gaza, which Israel perceived as reflecting the traditional stance of UN bodies.