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Is Germany’s support for the Israeli genocide in Gaza wavering?

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Politico
  • 17 Feb 2024 17:35
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

Recent comments by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock suggest a departure from Berlin's previous pro-Israeli stance.

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  • A Palestinian looks at th destruction by the Israeli bombardment in the Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
    A Palestinian looks at th destruction by the Israeli bombardment in the Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

A report by Politico on Saturday detailed the possibility that Germany's support for "Israel" was waning due to recent remarks by Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, who stated earlier this week that "the security of the people in Israel is just as important as the survival of the Palestinians."

The report stated that these remarks mark a stark shift from Germany's previous pro-Israeli position, which regards "Israel's" existence and security as Germany's raison d'etre, or as they call it "Staatsräson."

According to Politico, Baerbock's comments would normally be considered uncontroversial in other states, but for Germany, this suggests the beginning of a significant shift.

The German diplomat is nonetheless strongly critical of the Palestinian resistance and still supports "Israel's" so-called "right to defend itself", even though the occupation regime's actions so far have conveyed anything but acts of self-defense.

As a potential genocide looms in Rafah, Western leaders are compelled to take a stand that does not further damage their already tarnished global reputation for excessive double standards.

"If Israel starts an extended military operation in Rafah, it would be a predictable humanitarian catastrophe," Baerbock said during her trip. French President Emmanuel Macron has likewise expressed a similar stand. 

Read more: 'Israel' committed 2,503 massacres in Gaza since Oct. 7: Media Office

German politician sued for inciting genocide

Earlier in the day, news sources reported that several pro-Palestine advocates have lodged criminal complaints against a German politician, accusing him of inciting hate and downplaying war crimes during the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza.

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The charges targeting Volker Beck, a former parliamentarian and leader of the German-Israeli Society, were initiated by Palestinian solidarity organizations, Palestine Speaks, and Jewish Voice for Just Peace in the Middle East.

"This is the first step in holding public figures who publicly make genocidal statements legally accountable," the group said in a post on Telegram.

The charges, submitted to five prosecutor offices across Germany, point to Beck's social media statements, opinion pieces, and media interviews, where he voiced support for Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Specifically, he advocated linking humanitarian aid to the release of Israeli captives. Beck dismissed the allegations as "baseless."

"There is no genocide in Gaza and I do not advocate genocide," he said as quoted by Reuters.

Beck also counteracted by filing defamation complaints against the groups.

Read more: Professor fired from German institute for pro-Palestine voice

Spain, Ireland demand review of EU-Israeli trade deal

Amid Israeli plans to invade the overcrowded city of Rafah, the Prime Ministers of Spain and Ireland on Wednesday have urged the EU leadership to promptly reassess "Israel's" human rights obligations as stipulated in a trade deal signed with the bloc.

The plea was communicated in a three-page long letter addressed to commission president Ursula von der Leyen and the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. 

"We are deeply concerned at the deteriorating situation in Israel and in Gaza, especially the impact the ongoing conflict is having on innocent Palestinians, especially children and women," the letter, jointly written by Spain's  Pedro Sanchez and Ireland's Leo Varadkar, read.

"The expanded Israeli military operation in the Rafah area poses a grave and imminent threat that the international community must urgently confront."

The letter straightforwardly requests that the bloc promptly undertake a review of the EU-"Israel" association agreement that came into force in 2000 and includes human rights obligations, which the regime has clearly violated.

  • genocide in Gaza
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  • war on Gaza
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  • Rafah
  • Germany
  • Annalena Baerbock
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