Germany for the first time lost the vote for its seat on the United Nations Security Council Wednesday, with its foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, attributing the failure partly to Germany’s support for Israel. The European country had served six terms on the Security Council before failing to secure a seat for another term.

The Security Council consists of five permanent members: the United States, China, Russia, Britain and France. Russia has strongly criticized Germany for its unapologetic pro-Ukraine stance and its staunch support for Israel.

In the wake of the Holocaust, Germany had committed itself to allyship with the Jewish state. In December, following the repeal of a three-month ban on arms sales to Israel, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz traveled to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At the time, he said that Germany will not recognize a Palestinian state “in the foreseeable future.” Germany has also cracked down on pro-terror protests and deported a number of activists.

“We have always taken a clear stance on certain issues, and these are positions that not all member states share,” Wadephul said at a press conference, adding that it was “no secret” that Russia had worked to undermine the vote due to Germany’s pro-Ukraine position. Russia has also fiercely criticized Israel at the United Nations.

“The fact that Germany must always assume a special responsibility for Israel in the Middle East conflict may also have cost votes,” he said.

Two seats on the Security Council are allocated to the Western European and Others Group, which Austria and Portugal won. While Austria has also supported Israel, its lower profile may have protected it from that perception.