Israel Wants Yom Kippur as U.N. Holiday

By JTA October 2, 2013

Israel asked the United Nations to recognize Yom Kippur as an official U.N. holiday.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin and Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., Ron Prosor, met Monday with U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson to request international recognition for Yom Kippur, Haaretz reported.

With the recognition, U.N. employees would be allowed to take a day off without having to give up a vacation day.

There are 10 U.N. holidays, including the Muslim observances of Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha and the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, along with Christmas Day, Palm Sunday, Easter and the Islamic New Year.

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