Let's Revamp German's Israel Policy: Ditch Unconditional Support, Embrace Two-State Solution
- Unwavering backing for Israel by Germany should not be devoid of required restrictions.
This week, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar lands in Berlin. This visit could mark a crucial turning point, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul are laying the groundwork for a necessary realignment of the Israeli-Palestinian discourse. It's high time Germany moved on from Angela Merkel's "Israel's security as a German raison d'état" formula, which has been increasingly used to justify blind allegiance to the controversial Netanyahu administration, home to right-wing extremists, despite a poll revealing that 80% of Germans don't condone Israel's Gaza actions following Hamas’ attacks on October 7, 2023. Instead, we need an open, nuanced debate to bolster support for Israel's security, a two-state solution, and the relentless fight against antisemitism.
Merkel's Raison d'État and the Netanyahu Government
Merkel coined the raison d'état formula in a 2008 Knesset speech, with Ehud Olmert as Israel's prime minister. As a proponent of the two-state solution, Olmert proposed to the Palestinian Authority an Israeli withdrawal from over 90% of the West Bank. The divide between Olmert and Netanyahu couldn't be more stark. Under Netanyahu, West Bank settlement construction continues, harming Palestinians' livelihoods. The award-winning Israeli-Palestinian documentary "No Other Land" is a testament to the brutality of this approach.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz voiced his contempt for the two-state solution in a speech to French President Macron, who had advocated for Palestinian state recognition as a moral duty and political necessity. Katz warned that Israel would recognize a Palestinian state only on paper while building a Jewish-Israeli state on the ground, dismissing the paper as destined for the dustbin of history. Two days after Hamas’ attacks, Katz's predecessor Yoav Gallant ordered a complete Gaza blockade: "There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting against human animals and acting accordingly." Such pronouncements sound undeniably like war crimes declarations.
While Olaf Scholz has expressed modest criticisms of Netanyahu's military tactics, Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor has demanded unwavering solidarity. "Now the raison d'état is on trial - without ifs and buts," Prosor declared following the ICC's arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, criticizing Germany for its feeble statements.
Moving Past Merkel's Raison d'État
The "without a 'but'" of the raison d'état doctrine echoes loud and clear. Acknowledging this, Merz and Wadephul have made their distancing from the Netanyahu government's actions. Merz spoke last week: "But if boundaries are crossed, where international humanitarian law is truly violated, then Germany, then the German Chancellor, must speak up." Wadephul was even more explicit, stating that Germany won't be "threatened" into compulsory solidarity with Israel's military operations in Gaza. Such unconditional support is unacceptable, as expressed by Olmert's criticism of Israel's "slaughter of Palestinian civilians" in the West Bank and the West Bank's war crimes in Gaza.
A Realistic and Differentiated Israel Policy
Moving beyond Merkel's formula requires nuanced consideration of German interests in relation to Israel's security. For instance, as Iran threatens Israel's existence, Germany benefits from Israeli innovation in areas like drone technology and missile defense. However, Germany has no interest in providing Israel with weapons that could be used in war crimes in Gaza. Thoughtful decisions on arms exports should take this into account.
Another topic for careful deliberation is the two-state solution, which, when approached thoughtfully, would also entail championing the existence of a peaceful Palestinian state. In light of the Netanyahu government's focus on Palestinian expulsion instead of state formation, is it productive for Germany to officially recognize a Palestinian state alongside EU partner countries like France and Spain?
Even discussions on combating antisemitism in Germany need careful, nuanced treatment. It's unacceptable that Jewish women and men feel increasingly insecure due to rising antisemitism, especially after October 7, 2023. However, it's also counterproductive for the Bundestag and federal government (as seen in the anti-Semitism resolution of last fall) to broadly define antisemitism, a move promoted by the Netanyahu government, which allows legitimate criticism of Israel to be labeled as antisemitic.
According to a recent Bertelsmann Foundation survey, 40% of Germans under 40 want reduced ties with Israel. This should serve as a wake-up call for our political leaders. To ensure the long-term foundation of German-Israeli relations, we must progress beyond simplistic debates and engage in more nuanced discussions.
- Israel
- Foreign Policy
- Gideon Saar
- Security Policy
- Antisemitism
- Two-State Solution
In light of the upcoming discussions regarding Germany's Israel policy, it is crucial to reconsider not only security policies but also employment and community policies related to the Israel-Pal Palestine discourse. As policy-and-legislation decisions, these areas should be addressed within the broader context of politics and general news.
Moreover, the German government should gradually move away from unconditional support for Israel, taking into account the nuances of the two-state solution, antisemitism, and security policies, as well as the need for a more differentiated Israel policy that considers the country's regional and global roles and responsibilities.
