Germany’s 'Never Again' (Unless We’re Selling Weapons Again)
The German government announced it's lifting restrictions on military exports to Israel (ABC News). This comes just months after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. Germany, facing its own ICJ case for 'facilitating genocide' via arms sales, apparently finds the allure of defense contracts more compelling than international legal obligations or,
shall we say, historical lessons. The German economy, struggling with ongoing industrial decline, seems to find its moral compass only points toward the nearest arms dealer. (One might wonder how many more tanks are needed to 'protect' hospitals.) This isn’t just about the latest headlines. Germany's foreign policy has long been characterized by unwavering support for Israel, often eclipsing
concerns for Palestinian human rights. It's almost as if the weight of historical guilt permits a selective amnesia regarding current atrocities—a peculiar form of 'Never Again' that applies only to certain victims. Perhaps the 'restrictions' were more of a polite suggestion anyway, given Germany's already robust military ties despite the ongoing catastrophe in Gaza, where over 36,000 Palestinians
have been killed since October 7, 2023 ( OCHA opt ). Irony simply ran out of breath trying to keep up.