Israel has sharply criticized Germany’s abstention from the UN resolution on Gaza. Chancellor Scholz defends the decision. This is due to the fact that negotiations on the decision had not previously been successful.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended Germany’s abstention in the vote on the Gaza resolution in the UN General Assembly, which Israel criticized. Germany has worked hard to achieve a resolution from the United Nations General Assembly that does justice to the situation, said the SPD politician during his visit to Nigeria. “When we didn’t succeed, we abstained from voting,” said Scholz.
The main aim of the negotiations was not to ignore the fact that it was an act of aggression. “A brutal, murderous aggression by Hamas that killed many people, children, babies, grandfathers and grandmothers,” emphasized Scholz. “This cannot be accepted and we will clearly support Israel in defending its own security.”
No common line between the EU and G7
The UN resolution, adopted by a two-thirds majority on Friday, condemns all violence against the Israeli and Palestinian civilian populations, calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all “illegally detained” civilians and demands unhindered humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip. It also calls for an “immediate permanent and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire” that should lead to a “cessation of hostilities”. There is no clear condemnation of Hamas’ terror as the cause of the war.
120 countries voted for the resolution, 45 abstained and 14 were against. The western states of the EU and the G7 did not find a common line. While France and Spain voted in favor, Germany, Great Britain and Italy abstained. The USA voted against it, along with several smaller EU states such as Austria, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
Criticism from Israel’s ambassador
The Central Council of Jews in Germany has criticized Germany’s abstention. “When it comes down to it in the UN, Germany has no clear stance against the relativization of Hamas terror now of all times,” said President Josef Schuster to the “Bild” newspaper. He complained that hatred of Jews and hostility to Israel are flaring up again in Germany – openly on the streets, in lecture halls and theaters. Schuster said he did not expect the developments in Germany over the past few weeks. “Sometimes I don’t recognize this country.”
Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, had already expressed disappointment about Germany’s voting behavior on Saturday and called on the Federal Republic to clearly support his country at the United Nations. “We need Germany’s support at the UN,” said Prosor. Abstaining from a vote “because you cannot directly say that Hamas is responsible for this cruel massacre is not enough,” he criticized.