Germany calls on NATO to oppose UN arms embargo on ‘Israel’: Exclusive

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Despite Germany’s controversial recent history, it is evident that the country has not fully overcome issues of racism.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, left, speaks with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba during a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at NATO headquarters in Brussels, April 4, 2024 (AP)

Diplomatic sources informed Al Mayadeen on Thursday that German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urged NATO allies to block a draft UN resolution calling for an immediate cessation of arms exports to “Israel.”

According to the sources, Baerbock reportedly told her counterparts during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at its headquarters in Brussels to pressure their governments into voting against the arms embargo resolution, which was submitted to the Human Rights Council on Wednesday.

Pakistan proposed the draft resolution on behalf of 55 of the 56 UN member nations in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), except Albania. Bolivia, Cuba, and the Palestinian Mission in Geneva have all co-sponsored the document.

A vote on the resolution is scheduled to be held tomorrow in Geneva.

Germany’s move comes after information indicating that several European countries, including France, Belgium, and Spain, are planning to vote in favor of the resolution, while others may abstain from voting, which could potentially lead to the resolution being adopted by a comfortable majority.

The document requests that “Israel” halt its occupation of Palestinian territory and “immediately lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip and all other forms of collective punishment.”

The resolution “calls upon all states to cease the sale, transfer, and diversion of arms, munitions, and other military equipment to Israel… in order to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights.”

The proposal “condemns Israel’s use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas in Gaza,” as well as its use of artificial intelligence that helps contribute to international crimes.

It urges governments to guarantee that UNRWA, the UN organization for Palestinian refugees, receives enough funds and requests that ‘Israel’ halt constructing settlements in Palestinian territory.

Despite Germany’s controversial recent history, it is evident that the country has not fully overcome issues of racism.

In late March, Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the West Bank and Gaza, submitted a report to the UN detailing the war crimes committed by the Israeli regime, effectively amounting to genocide.

She later received threats as a result of these revelations.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) annual study issued in March revealed that sixty-nine percent of “Israel’s” arms acquisitions in 2023 came from US corporations, 30% came from Germany, and 0.9% from Italy.