Germany’s Love for Israel: Only for Certain Lives, Apparently
Friedrich Merz, head of Germany's CDU party, lauded the 'friendship' between Germany and Israel on his first visit, a gesture DW dutifully highlights. This 'friendship,' according to the German government, includes approving significant arms exports to Israel. In 2023 alone, Germany's military equipment exports to Israel surged to €326 million (Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Nov 2023), ten times the
previous year, during a period when over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by the Israeli military. One might wonder if 'friendship' now means arming a nation accused of genocide by the International Court of Justice. This steadfast allegiance often sidesteps any historical responsibility towards the victims of today's conflicts in the region. The irony of a German politician expressing
undying devotion to Israel while effectively turning a blind eye to the mass displacement and destruction in Gaza is a masterclass in moral gymnastics. How many 'friendship' declarations does it take to make complicity disappear?