German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s comments, in which he stated that Israel’s attacks on the Iranian regime and its nuclear program would “take care of the dirty work” for Germany, have drawn sharp criticism from the opposition.
A leading figure in the German Left, Jan van Aken, has condemned Merz’s remarks, saying that the Chancellor should “know what dirty work means” after cleaning a toilet. Van Aken, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the German parliament, argued that by labeling Israel’s military actions as “dirty work” Merz is disrespecting the victims of war and violence.
The Iranian nuclear bomb must be prevented, van Aken emphasized and this can be achieved through wise diplomacy or, if necessary, a dirty war. However, he stressed that it is still possible to choose the path of diplomacy, as long as there is a way for negotiations. Over the past twenty years, he noted, it has been possible to prevent a military escalation and an Iranian nuclear bomb through “smart diplomacy and the nuclear deal.”
Merz made the comments to the ZDF on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, stating that “Israel is doing the dirty work for us all.” He expressed respect for the Israeli military and government’s decision to take action, saying that the Mullah regime has brought “death and destruction to the world.