The U.N. today held an Israeli-led “thematic debate” – basically a conference – revolving around how to promote global entrepreneurship. The event stemmed from a resolution passed last December by the U.N. General Assembly. The resolution among other things created a system for creating and nurturing entrepreneurial resources, and sought to empower women and young entrepreneurs. It was opposed at the time by 31 nations, most drawn out of the Arab and Muslim world.

Israel is considered uniquely positioned to promote development and entrepreneurial strategies. The Jewish state’s ambassador to the U.N. outlined some of the reasons why at today’s event:

The conference — which is the result of the passing last year of an Israeli resolution calling on member states to promote entrepreneurship — is part of an effort by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to steer away from conflict-oriented issues and brand itself as a world-leader in using innovation as a means of battling poverty, creating jobs, and increasing growth.

“Israel is a young, dynamic, and creative state. We have decided to go public, not on Wall Street, but at the UN Headquarters on 1st Avenue,” said Israeli envoy to the UN Ambassador Ron Prosor. “This initial public offering has 141 signatories. It is important that the whole world can enjoy Israel’s knowledge, technology, and innovation.”

Notably, representatives of Kuwait, Bahrain and Tunisia all attended.

The U.N.’s press release on today’s events very pointedly did not mention Israel’s role in proposing security passage for, or leading the conference. The snub is bound to be read against perceptions that the international body is endemically biased against Israel.

Watchdog groups have recently called attention to efforts by the U.N. to flat out deny that a top official posed with a map that labeled all of Israel as “Palestine,” despite photographic evidence that that’s exactly what happened.

[Photo: IsraelinUN / YouTube]