*UNITED NATIONS: Israel on Friday dropped out of a race for a SecurityCouncil seat in 2019 and 2020 following a campaign by Arab states at theUnited Nations to block the bid.*

The decision leaves the path clear for Germany and Belgium to take the twoseats available for countries of the Western Europe and Others group whenthe General Assembly votes next month.

“After consulting with our partners, including our good friends, the stateof Israel has decided to postpone its candidacy for a seat on the SecurityCouncil,” said a statement from the Israeli mission.

It was Israel´s first attempt to win a seat at the 15-member council.

Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki said last month that Arabcountries were “doing everything possible to convince as many countries aspossible to block the vote on Israel´s bid for a seat at the SecurityCouncil.”

South Africa and the Dominican Republic are set to win two of the fiveseats up for election.

Indonesia and the Maldives will be competing for one seat representing theAsia-Pacific group of countries.

The Security Council is made up of five permanent members – Britain, China,France, Russia and the United States — while the ten other seats arefilled by elected members that serve two-year stints. APP/AFP