ID :
209469
Mon, 09/26/2011 - 14:04
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/209469
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Germany’s Palestine paradox
TEHRAN, Sept.26(MNA) -- The European Union is currently divided on how to deal with the proposal to recognize Palestine as an independent state.
The governments of France, Britain, Greece, Cyprus, Belgium, and Spain have announced their support for Palestinian statehood.
However, the principal supporters of Israel in Europe, such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy, have clearly expressed their objections, maintaining that Palestinian statehood would harm the Zionist regime’s interests in the region. The German government’s opposition to Palestinian statehood is articulated in a more clear voice than the objections of the other EU countries.
However, the fact that the majority of EU countries are in favor of Palestinian statehood has caused German officials to moderate their position because Germany’s opposition could endanger Berlin’s position as the most powerful political force in the EU.
Since the establishment of the Zionist regime after the end of World War II, the Germans have felt a sense of respect and moral responsibility toward Israel. The diplomatic and foreign policy positions of the country, and even German schoolbooks, have been cautiously monitored over the decades to avoid anything that would anger the Israelis.
Many analysts say that unwavering support of Israel is the main legacy of World War II for German politicians.
But support for Israel is in fact a moral responsibility which is not always compatible with the interests of German foreign policy. Germans’ moral responsibility to support Israel, in contrast to their relentless efforts to establish lasting relations with the Islamic world, is the main paradox in German foreign policy.
Historically, Germans have been the leading force in Europe promoting the expansion of relations with the Islamic world. And Germany has been able to attain a certain level of popularity among Muslim countries, mainly due to its refusal to support the United States’ policy on Iraq.
Thus, any stance German officials adopt toward the issue of Palestinian statehood will have repercussions.
The cautious stance adopted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party seems to be rooted in this old paradox. This has little to do with domestic politics in Germany, and other German parties would have made the same decision.
This, of course, does not include the more leftist parties. The leftist parties of Germany are small parties that have never gained a majority of the seats in the German parliament. Their voices are only heard when they are part of a coalition government.
However, even a coalition government comprising Die Linke, the Greens, and the Social Democrats would have adopted the same stance toward the proposal to recognize Palestine as an independent state at the United Nations.
Israel enjoys a central position in Germany’s foreign policy, and German officials and political parties are committed and obliged to maintain Israel’s security, in line with the German constitution.
Bearing all this in mind, Germans are expected to vote against the proposal to recognize Palestine as an independent state at Monday’s session of the UN Security Council.
The governments of France, Britain, Greece, Cyprus, Belgium, and Spain have announced their support for Palestinian statehood.
However, the principal supporters of Israel in Europe, such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy, have clearly expressed their objections, maintaining that Palestinian statehood would harm the Zionist regime’s interests in the region. The German government’s opposition to Palestinian statehood is articulated in a more clear voice than the objections of the other EU countries.
However, the fact that the majority of EU countries are in favor of Palestinian statehood has caused German officials to moderate their position because Germany’s opposition could endanger Berlin’s position as the most powerful political force in the EU.
Since the establishment of the Zionist regime after the end of World War II, the Germans have felt a sense of respect and moral responsibility toward Israel. The diplomatic and foreign policy positions of the country, and even German schoolbooks, have been cautiously monitored over the decades to avoid anything that would anger the Israelis.
Many analysts say that unwavering support of Israel is the main legacy of World War II for German politicians.
But support for Israel is in fact a moral responsibility which is not always compatible with the interests of German foreign policy. Germans’ moral responsibility to support Israel, in contrast to their relentless efforts to establish lasting relations with the Islamic world, is the main paradox in German foreign policy.
Historically, Germans have been the leading force in Europe promoting the expansion of relations with the Islamic world. And Germany has been able to attain a certain level of popularity among Muslim countries, mainly due to its refusal to support the United States’ policy on Iraq.
Thus, any stance German officials adopt toward the issue of Palestinian statehood will have repercussions.
The cautious stance adopted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party seems to be rooted in this old paradox. This has little to do with domestic politics in Germany, and other German parties would have made the same decision.
This, of course, does not include the more leftist parties. The leftist parties of Germany are small parties that have never gained a majority of the seats in the German parliament. Their voices are only heard when they are part of a coalition government.
However, even a coalition government comprising Die Linke, the Greens, and the Social Democrats would have adopted the same stance toward the proposal to recognize Palestine as an independent state at the United Nations.
Israel enjoys a central position in Germany’s foreign policy, and German officials and political parties are committed and obliged to maintain Israel’s security, in line with the German constitution.
Bearing all this in mind, Germans are expected to vote against the proposal to recognize Palestine as an independent state at Monday’s session of the UN Security Council.
