Skip to main content

Germany's Consul General faces scrutiny over UN Charter silence on Israel-Gaza

By A Representative
 
The Consulate General of Germany in Bangalore recently hosted a celebration for the 35th Day of German Unity, where Consul General Achim Burkart's repeated references to the UN Charter in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war were noted by attendees as a positive affirmation of Germany's commitment to democratic multilateralism. However, the omission of the Charter when discussing the Israel-Gaza conflict has drawn pointed criticism regarding the perceived imbalance and partiality of his address.
In a detailed letter to the Consul General, UN Environmental Negotiator and Ecologist Dr. S. Faizi expressed his appreciation for the German Unity Day celebrations and the musical performance by Buck Rogers and Sidetrackers, while simultaneously raising serious concerns about the omission regarding Israel. Dr. Faizi, citing a strong connection to the German people and a history of working with the German Environment Ministry, argued that Israel represents the gravest threat to the UN Charter ever, moving beyond alleged atrocities to direct attacks on the UN system itself.
Dr. Faizi outlined five specific instances to support his claim: the Israeli UN Ambassador’s act of shredding the UN Charter on the podium of the General Assembly in May 2024; the Ambassador's subsequent call in August 2024 for the destruction of the UN headquarters in New York, stating it should be "wiped off from the face of the earth"; the Israeli Foreign Minister’s declaration of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as 'persona non grata' in October 2024, banning him from entering the country as a "categorical declaration of hostility" towards the UN; the Israeli Knesset’s action in July 2024 to designate UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) as a terrorist organization and subsequent legislation banning its operations in Israel and Gaza; and finally, the unprecedented killing of over 360 UNRWA staff in Gaza by the Israeli military since October 2023 (as of July 2025), including the summary execution of a staffer and his family.
The letter asserts that these "constant denouncement and breaches" have led to Israel’s ostracization, suggesting the country should be proscribed from the UN, possibly through General Assembly Rules of Procedure, as was done with apartheid South Africa, given that any direct attempt to suspend or remove Israel via UN Charter Articles 5 or 6 would likely face a veto by the USA. Dr. Faizi concluded by urging the Consul General to avoid presenting "ideas of bias and partial truths" to a captive audience, suggesting press conferences or seminars with diverse opinions as more appropriate forums for expressing government views on controversial issues, a practice he recalled was maintained by the previous German Consul General, Margit Hellwig-Bötte. Dr. Faizi affirmed his personal commitment to justice and harmony, traits he noted are ingrained in the social mind of his native Kerala.

Comments

TRENDING

What Sister Nivedita understood about India that we have forgotten

By Harasankar Adhikari   In the idea of a “Vikshit Bharat,” many real problems—hunger, poverty, ill health, unemployment, and joblessness—are increasingly overshadowed by the religious contest between Hindu and Muslim fundamentalisms. This contest is often sponsored and patronised by political parties across the spectrum, whether openly Hindutva-oriented, Islamist, partisan, or self-proclaimed secular.

The rise of the civilizational state: Prof. Pratap Bhanu Mehta warns of new authoritarianism

By A Representative   Noted political theorist and public intellectual Professor Pratap Bhanu Mehta delivered a poignant reflection on the changing nature of the Indian state today, warning that the rise of a "civilizational state" poses a significant threat to the foundations of modern democracy and individual freedom. Delivering the Achyut Yagnik Memorial Lecture titled "The Idea of Civilization: Poison or Cure?" at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Mehta argued that India is currently witnessing a self-conscious political project that seeks to redefine the state not as a product of a modern constitution, but as an instrument of an ancient, authentic civilization.

Why experts say replacing MGNREGA could undo two decades of rural empowerment

By A Representative   A group of scientists, academics, civil society organisations and field practitioners from India and abroad has issued an open letter urging the Union government to reconsider the repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and to withdraw the newly enacted Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025. The letter, dated December 27, 2025, comes days after the VB–G RAM G Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 16 and subsequently approved by both Houses of Parliament, formally replacing the two-decade-old employment guarantee law.

NYT: RSS 'infiltrates' institutions, 'drives' religious divide under Modi's leadership

By Jag Jivan   A comprehensive New York Times investigation published on December 26, 2025, chronicles the rise of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — characterized as a far-right Hindu nationalist organization — from a shadowy group founded in 1925 to the world's largest right-wing force, marking its centenary in 2025 with unprecedented influence and mainstream acceptance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi , who joined the RSS as a young boy and later became a full-time campaigner before being deputized to its political wing in the 1980s, delivered his strongest public tribute to the group in his August 2025 Independence Day address. Speaking from the Red Fort , he called the RSS a "giant river" with dozens of streams touching every aspect of Indian life, praising its "service, dedication, organization, and unmatched discipline." The report describes how the RSS has deeply infiltrated India's institutions — government, courts, police, media, and academia — ...

India’s universities lag global standards, pushing students overseas: NITI Aayog study

By Rajiv Shah   A new Government of India study, Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: Prospects, Potential, and Policy Recommendations , prepared by NITI Aayog , regrets that India’s lag in this sector is the direct result of “several systemic challenges such as inadequate infrastructure to provide quality education and deliver world-class research, weak industry–academia collaboration, and outdated curricula.”

Interfaith cooperation in Punjab village as Sikhs and Hindus support mosque construction

By Bharat Dogra   A recent heart-warming report on Sikh and Hindu families helping to build a mosque in a village of Punjab deserves wide attention. It is such examples that truly strengthen national unity. There are many instances of mutual respect and cooperation among people of different religions and faiths that need to be better known today.

'Caste oppression ignored': NCERT textbooks reflect ideological bias, says historian

By A Representative   The Indian History Forum organized a webinar titled “Rewriting the Past: Distortions and Ideological Interventions in NCERT History Textbooks” on 22 December 2025. The session featured historian Dr Ruchika Sharma, who critically examined recent changes in NCERT history textbooks and their implications for historical understanding and social cohesion among millions of students across the country.  

Investment in rule of law a corporate imperative, not charity: Business, civil society leaders

By A Representative   In a compelling town hall discussion hosted at L.J School of Law , prominent voices from industry and civil society underscored that corporate investment in strengthening the rule of law is not an act of charity but a critical business strategy for building a safer, stronger, and developed India by 2047. The dialogue, part of the Unmute podcast series, examined the intrinsic link between ethical business conduct , robust legal frameworks, and sustainable national development, against the sobering backdrop of India ranking 79th out of 142 countries on the global Rule of Law Index .

When a city rebuilt forgets its builders: Migrant workers’ struggle for sanitation in Bhuj

Khasra Ground site By Aseem Mishra*  Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is not a privilege—it is a fundamental human right. This principle has been unequivocally recognised by the United Nations and repeatedly affirmed by the Supreme Court of India as intrinsic to the right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution. Yet, for thousands of migrant workers living in Bhuj, this right remains elusive, exposing a troubling disconnect between constitutional guarantees, policy declarations, and lived reality.