Berlin partly blamed the “bitter defeat” on its steadfast support for Israel, which it suggested cost it key votes in the General Assembly.

Fifteen of the 193 UN member states sit on the UN Security Council. Germany was in competition with Austria and Portugal for two seats in the "Western Europe and Others" group.

Deutschland ist mit seiner Kandidatur für einen Sitz im Sicherheitsrat der Vereinten Nationen gescheitert. Die Bundesrepublik unterlag Portugal und Österreich.