generalspeaking

Germany Blocking Israel from Serving on Security Council?

Israel has issued a formal complaint against Germany for blocking it from serving on the UN Security Council in 2018, the Israel Hayom daily reported on Tuesday.

Israel has never held a position on the council, although nations which violate its citizens’ rights and are a security threat to other countries, such as Syria and Iran, have.

The Security Council comprises five permanent and 10 rotating members, elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms and chosen from regional groups. Due to pressures by the Arab League, Israel was removed from the Asian region and placed in the "Western European and others" regional group, explained Israel Hayom.

For years Israel has tried to be part of the council, and it seemed as if its calls were answered when it was scheduled to sit on the council in 2018. But Germany recently decided to vie for the 2018 spot, and it is clear that Israel has no chance of winning against Germany, the report said.

The Foreign Ministry said that Israel and Germany had an agreement in which Germany said it would not run, but the agreement was now being breached.

Israeli Ambassador to Germany Yaakov Hadas has protested to the German Foreign Ministry, Israel Hayom said. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who is set to arrive in Israel over the weekend, will be given the same message.

Iran, meanwhile, is set to take over presidency of the UN Conference on Disarmament. Iran will lead the conference from May 27 until June 23, under an alphabetical rotation among the 65 member states.

The United States said that it will boycott meetings of the conference when Iran takes over the body.
Iran, and any nation facing sanctions for its weapons program, should be "barred" from holding formal UN positions, said Erin Pelton, spokeswoman for the U.S. mission at the United Nations.
Iran's position heading the conference has also angered non-government lobby groups such as UN Watch.

"This is like putting Jack the Ripper in charge of a women's shelter," said Hillel Neuer, head of the Geneva-based UN Watch, announcing that the organization would organize protest events involving Iranian dissidents.

"Iran is an international outlaw state that illegally supplies rockets to Syria, Hizbullah, and Hamas, aiding and abetting mass murder and terrorism," said Neuer.

Labels: Armaments, Diplomacy, Germany, Human Rights, Iran, Israel, Syria, United Nations

posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, May 15, 2013