Israel's run for UN Security Council seat. Germany deliberately standing in the way

"Outreach to Africa, educational trips for foreign diplomats and a more conciliatory Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu make it clear: Israel is campaigning to overcome its acrimonious relationship with the United Nations in time to win a coveted spot on the Security Council next year.

Israel is working to rally enough votes in the 193-member General Assembly to defeat either Germany or Belgium in a three-way race for two spots on the UN's most powerful body.

'They've done their campaign with a level of sophistication which is remarkable, doing it systemically, arranging fact-finding missions and bilateral agreements,' said Syed Akbaruddin, India's ambassador to the UN. 'They start with a disadvantage in that there are countries that are not disposed to vote for them, but they have cultivated certain countries to shore up constituencies.'...

Israel's run at the Security Council has been in the works for 12 years and now has a powerful ally in U.S. President Donald Trump. His ambassador, Nikki Haley, has accused UN institutions such as the Human Rights Council of 'chronic anti-Israel bias,' for issuing five resolutions this year against Israel yet none against Venezuela, which is engulfed in civil unrest...

In May, the American Jewish Committee and Danon hosted a dinner meeting for 15 African ambassadors to discuss expanding relations. Israel has also raised its profile by sponsoring a UN resolution on sustainable development and entering elections for committees that oversee legal and administrative matters. Also in May, Danon was elected to a one-year term as vice president of the UN General Assembly beginning on Sept. 12.

'Every election we enter and every resolution we sponsor at the UN is always a challenge,' Danon said. 'Our goal is to strive for full acceptance in every UN agency and forum.'...

History suggests Israel, one of 66 countries never elected to the council, faces an uphill struggle to secure at least 128 votes, or two-thirds of the 193 member states, in a secret ballot. Not many of the 57 members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation are likely to back Israel although Netanyahu has visited some Islamic countries, notably Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan...

Don't count Israel out, said Richard Gowan, a UN expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations. One potential twist: With the balloting conducted in secret, Saudi Arabia and its Sunni neighbors might cast their ballots for Israel on the bet it would take a tough stand against their common archenemy Iran.

'I can see Belgium getting squeezed,' said Gowan said. 'You'd assume that the Arab world may vote against Israel, but you could be surprised.'"