New York – The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has strongly praised President Bush’s decision to install John Bolton, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, as Ambassador to the United Nations through a recess appointment.

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, “John Bolton is the right man in the right place at the right time. He has shown his honesty and his principle by exposing U.N. abuses, hypocrisies and dishonesty, and should therefore prove an outstanding advocate for the interests of the United States, at a time that the Bush Administration is seeking major reform of the world body. Bolton understands the reforms needed to make the U.N. an effective, moral body that actually lives up to the ideals of its founders.

“Above all, John Bolton has displayed great integrity and skill. It was Bolton who managed the U.S.-led campaign to have the U.N. General Assembly rescind its 1975 ‘Zionism is Racism’ Resolution in 1991, something he proudly describes as a ‘highlight of my career’ and one that removed ‘the greatest stain on the U.N.’s reputation.’ Since then, we have seen other U.N. failures and scandals, like oil-for-food and the anti-Semitic hate campaign mounted at the 2001 Durban Conference, so there is plenty of work to be done and John Bolton is exceptionally qualified to do it.

“John Bolton has been a strong supporter of Israel who believes in its importance to America and he has proven himself as an effective proponent of the U.S. war against radical Islamic terrorism. He is just the sort of person America needs at the U.N. It is because the United States believes in the founding ideals of the U.N. that sending there someone like John Bolton who believes in them as well, is the right choice and we commend President Bush for doing so.”