UNITED NATIONS, Sept 20: Israel’s Deputy Prime Minster and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on Tuesday praised Pakistan for extending its “hand of friendship and recognition” towards the Jewish State as he announced the Israeli candidature for a seat in the expanded UN Security Council.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, he said: “The iron wall that has defined Israel’s relations with most of the Arab and Muslim world for generations has come down.”

“Countries like Pakistan and others — who in the past refused to acknowledge our shared humanity — today are extending their hand of friendship and recognition,” said Shalom, indicating a major shift in relations between the two countries from the world stage.

He said that Israel seeks to take its rightful place as a country with full and equal rights in this (United Nations) institution.

“That is why I have decided to present for the first time Israel’s candidacy for the membership of the UN Security Council,” he said.