The German Foreign Ministry official recently posted an anti-Semitic tweet in apparent defense of the U.N.'s aid agency for Palestinian refugees, of which Germany is a top sponsor.
On Christmas Eve, Christian Buck, director for Near and Middle East and North Africa tweeted, "A couple are expelled from their homeland in the Middle East and are on the run. They find shelter in a tent [UNRWA]. They do not lose hope, nor the support of wise kings. Sounds familiar? Merry Christmas from the Foreign Ministry's Middle East team."
The comparison between the persecution of Jesus and his family, first by King Herod and then by the Romans, and the situation of the Palestinians in the Middle East is common in anti-Semitic circles. In recent years, with the encouragement of the Palestinian Authority, anti-Israel circles have been increasingly portraying Jesus as a Palestinian, even though he was a Jew and was persecuted as one.
Buck's tweet is riddled with historical inaccuracies: Jesus' parents, Mary and Joseph – both Jews – were not expelled from their homeland but rather left their home in Nazareth to hide the birth of their son following a decree by Herod to execute all firstborn sons. The order followed a prophecy predicting his reign would end with such a birth. Also, Mary and Joseph did not find shelter in the tent, but rather in a manger in Bethlehem.
Comparing Herod's actions to Israel's policy toward the Palestinians borders on accusing Israel of genocide.
Buck's tweet prompted harsh criticism and was removed.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said, "UNRWA is part of the problem and certainly not part of the solution. Perpetuating the status of Palestinian refugees does nothing to solve the [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict and only strengthens it."
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has been under growing criticism in recent years for perpetuating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, allowing anti-Israel incitement in its institutions, and its exploitation by Hamas, as the terrorist group that rules Gaza often uses UNRWA facilities to hide weapons.
In January 2018, the U.S. cut $65 million of its planned $125 million aid to UNRWA, saying any future aid contingent on major reforms.
The move prompted Germany to announce that it would increase its aid to the agency. Berlin also committed to lobbying other European Union states to do the same.
