Defending Support for Israel's Actions Against Iran: A Contentious Perspective
Staved off Iran's 'terrorist government' threat to liberty - Countermeasures against Iran's designation as a "repressive government" by those involved in the conflict
Chief of Staff of the Chancellery Thorsten Frei has defended the support shown by Chancellor Friedrich Merz for Israel's military actions against Iran. "What the Chancellor expressed was that it is in our interest to prevent a terrorist regime like the Iranian mullah regime from possessing nuclear weapons," said Frei in an interview with the German Press Agency, emphasizing that the potential for Iran's rocket technology to reach targets beyond Iran is a cause for concern.
During the G7 summit in Canada, Merz commented on Israel's attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and leadership personnel, stating, "That's the gritty work Israel is doing for us." While his choice of words generated criticism, Merz expressed respect for the Israeli army's and government's courage in carrying out these actions.
However, Frei was cautious about evaluating whether the attacks comply with international law, stating, "We simply do not have the necessary information to make a definitive legal assessment." Israel's actions were a response to being heavily threatened by Iran, a fact that Frei believes should be considered when judging the situation.
Germany's responsibility to support Israel's ability to defend itself remains unwavering, according to Frei. The federal government has historically maintained this position and continues to do so today.
Despite being a crisis region, Israel has received weapons and military equipment worth four million euros from the German government over the past five weeks. While this might seem low compared to the military deliveries worth 28 million euros approved in the first quarter of 2025, Frei argues that comparing smaller time periods is misleading.
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The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, and the legality of Israel's actions, is the subject of intense debate both domestically and internationally. UN human rights experts have unanimously condemned Israel's strikes, labeling them as clear violations of fundamental international law principles. However, Israeli officials argue that the strikes are lawful acts of pre-emptive self-defense against an imminent threat, citing intelligence on Iran's nuclear advancement and hostile acts toward Israel.
This polarizing situation raises concerns about eroding international legal norms concerning the use of force, particularly regarding the applicability of pre-emptive self-defense.
- Thorsten Frei
- Iran
- Friedrich Merz
- Israel
- Middle East
- Federal Government
- CDU
- Berlin
- German Press Agency
- Europe
- G7 Summit
- Canada
- Thorsten Frei, in his interview with the German Press Agency, pointed out that the Chancellor's support for Israel's military actions against Iran is based on the need to prevent a terrorist regime like the Iranian mullah regime from acquiring nuclear weapons, and expressed concern over Iran's rocket technology reaching targets beyond its borders.
- The ongoing debate about Israel's actions against Iran raises questions about the erosion of international legal norms concerning the use of force, particularly regarding the applicability of pre-emptive self-defense, as highlighted by the UN human rights experts' condemnation of Israel's strikes and Israel's counterarguments citing intelligence on Iran's nuclear advancement and hostile acts.
