In the face of growing criticism in Germany of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and debates over a potential shift in Germany’s course, particularly regarding the export of arms, the German-Israeli Society (DIG) warns against sacrificing solidarity with Israel.
According to DIG President Volker Beck, the German government’s stance on Israel’s security needs to be reevaluated, taking into account the strategic necessity of approaching other European partners, such as France and the UK. Beck emphasized that the security of Israel should not be compromised in the face of a challenging external and defense policy situation.
Regarding the issue of weapon deliveries to Israel, Beck emphasized the need to consider the “big picture.” Israel is engaged in a “seven-front war” he said and criticized what he called “Oberlehrertum in Germany” implying that Germany’s self-perceived expertise in advising on the conduct of asymmetric war is unwarranted.
A position paper by the DIG on the situation in the Middle East also emphasizes that what Israel needs to exercise its right to self-defense must be provided and the German government should stand by its word. The 13-page document, which the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger” reported on, highlights the importance of upholding international law and its provisions for Israel’s military actions, including the protection of civilian populations. The DIG describes Israel’s military intervention in the Gaza Strip as “basically proportionate.”
The “catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip” also weighs heavily on Beck, he said, but emphasized that the Hamas could end the war every day by releasing hostages and laying down its arms. However, the Hamas has a different goal, aiming to delegitimize Israel’s self-defense efforts and the state of Israel as a whole through the suffering of its civilian population. The society’s president warned against being drawn into the Hamas’s script by advocating for the upholding of international law and at the same time, the security of Israel should not be compromised.
The DIG welcomes the resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries, which had been halted in March. Beck called it “high time” for the resumption and criticized the Netanyahu government for allowing the situation to deteriorate to such an extent and the justification for the resumption as being forced by external pressure as “embarrassing” as the intentional starving of civilians is clearly prohibited by humanitarian law.