Key facts
- Rebeca Grynspan is an early frontrunner to become the next UN Secretary-General.
- She would be the first woman, first Central American, and first Jewish person to hold the role.
- Grynspan received strong support in the Security Council's first straw poll.
- Israeli media have highlighted her Jewish heritage and family connections to Israel.
- Her past work at UNCTAD has included critical assessments of Israel's impact on the Palestinian economy.
Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan has emerged as an early favorite to become the next United Nations Secretary-General, attracting attention from Israeli media regarding her Jewish heritage and family ties to Israel. If selected, Grynspan would be the first woman, first Central American, and first Jewish person to lead the organization.
Grynspan secured 10 'encourage' votes, four 'no opinion' votes, and one 'discourage' vote in the Security Council's first secret straw poll on July 30, placing her in a strong initial position. The Security Council is expected to finalize a candidate by October, with any of the five permanent members holding veto power.
Born into a Jewish family in Costa Rica in 1955, Grynspan's parents were European Jewish refugees, and extended family members were victims of the Nazi Holocaust. Israeli coverage has highlighted these aspects, as well as her sister Frida Greenspan's move to Israel and her children's military service. Ynet described Grynspan as 'one of the distinctly pro-Israel candidates' with relatives in the West Bank, noting her pride in her Jewish heritage and past ties with Israeli officials.
However, her approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains largely untested, as she has rarely centered it in her public political identity. UNCTAD, under Grynspan's leadership, has produced reports critical of Israel's impact on the Palestinian economy, leading to Israel's foreign ministry previously cutting ties with the agency over 'anti-Israel reports.' Despite this, Israeli officials have not publicly targeted Grynspan directly.
An opinion piece in Israel Hayom suggested Grynspan's candidacy is being marketed to select member states, particularly the US and Israel, emphasizing her background as a daughter of Holocaust survivors with Israeli family connections. Ynet indicated that Israel could influence the selection process through its relationships with the US, UK, and France, and that candidates have been reaching out to the Israeli Ambassador to the UN.