Germany stands with Israel at the UN. German, EU flags in Square of the Republic in Berlin. Illustrative. By Joshua Spurlock
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Saturday marked the 70th anniversary of the admittance of Israel to the United Nations by offering his nation’s ongoing support for the Jewish state and by criticizing the UN for continuing to act in a biased manner against Israel. “Germany stands, also in the UN, shoulder to shoulder with Israel, whose security and right to exist must never be called into question by anyone anywhere,” said Maas in a press release from the Federal Foreign Office.
“Nevertheless, Israel is still being denounced, treated in a biased manner and marginalized inappropriately in UN bodies to this day. This state of affairs is painful and unsatisfactory, and especially since the UN is at the heart of the multilateral, rules-based order and vital to international security and peace.”
The European nation currently holds a special place of honor at the UN as a member of the highly powerful Security Council, a role they intend to wield with Israel’s interests in mind. “We will continue, including as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, to support Israel’s legitimate interests, to help strengthen its representation in the UN and to do our utmost to oppose any attempt to isolate or delegitimize Israel,” said Maas.
Germany has long held a special relationship with Israel in the wake of the Holocaust carried out by the Nazi German regime. In a separate but related press release from the Federal Foreign Office, Berlin noted that “Germany’s historic responsibility for the Jewish and democratic State of Israel and its security is part of our raison d’être. Germany will always work, including in the UN, to ensure that Israel’s right to exist is never called into question.”
Ironically, the Federal Republic of Germany did not enter the UN until 24 years after Israel. Yet in that time, Germany has become a firm believer in the UN, even for the Israel-Palestinian conflict that has so far remained unresolved despite decades of efforts by the UN to effect change.
The German press statement didn’t address the failures at the UN in this regard, but instead highlighted their ongoing faith in the UN for this role—a bit ironic given Berlin’s critique of the UN.
“We firmly believe that only a strong rules-based order can guarantee lasting security and peace. This is also true of the unresolved Middle East conflict,” said the German press release. “The UN resolutions constitute the international framework in which the parties should work to achieve a permanent and just solution. Until then, the UN will play a crucial role in stabilizing the situation via its institutions and organs.”
While the UN has not been a very good friend of Israel, Germany on Saturday made a point of standing with not only the Jewish State, but with Jews in general.
Said the press release, “In its profound solidarity with the Jewish people and the State of Israel, Germany will continue to do its part in strengthening Israel’s representation in the UN.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, May 12, 2019)