Comments on: Germany and Israel: Friendship and Criticism http://ajcwire.org/2007/04/13/germany-and-israel-friendship-and-criticism/ blog of the American Jewish Committee. Articles on Jewish life, current events, and Israel. Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:29:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: David Wolski http://ajcwire.org/2007/04/13/germany-and-israel-friendship-and-criticism/#comment-283 David Wolski Thu, 19 Apr 2007 09:53:39 +0000 http://ajcblog.org/2007/04/13/germany-and-israel-friendship-and-criticism/#comment-283 The gap between public opinion and public policy already leads to the reappearance of anti-semitic clichées such as that the government is controlled by a jewish-zionist conspiracy of elitists. It also shows that the public debate about the historical role of Germany in the past has failed in Germany. It seems that the more the Germans know about their history the more they deny their responsibility. All this prooves that Adorno and Horkheimer were right with their pessimistic vision of a Negative Enlightment ("Dialectic of Enlightenment": Philosophical Fragments. Stanford, Cal.:Stanford University Press, 2002.) The gap between public opinion and public policy already leads to the reappearance of anti-semitic clichées such as that the government is controlled by a jewish-zionist conspiracy of elitists. It also shows that the public debate about the historical role of Germany in the past has failed in Germany. It seems that the more the Germans know about their history the more they deny their responsibility. All this prooves that Adorno and Horkheimer were right with their pessimistic vision of a Negative Enlightment (”Dialectic of Enlightenment”: Philosophical Fragments. Stanford, Cal.:Stanford University Press, 2002.)

]]> By: Miguel Nunes Silva http://ajcwire.org/2007/04/13/germany-and-israel-friendship-and-criticism/#comment-284 Miguel Nunes Silva Thu, 19 Apr 2007 08:51:07 +0000 http://ajcblog.org/2007/04/13/germany-and-israel-friendship-and-criticism/#comment-284 I'm affraid there are even other factors at play that may force Merkel to take a more neutral stance on Israel. I admire Merkel for her broadly Realist approach to foreign affairs. But because of this same, reasoning she may decide that the Israel cause is more counter-productive than fruitful to Germany. Germany has important neighbours taking more clear cut approaches to dealing with Israel. On one hand we have Russia, that through its Arab ties and military technology rivalry, does not favour Israel at all. If we think that Russia has great influence in Germany due to its gas exports and geopolitical influence in eastern Europe, we'll see that Germany needs to tread carefully with Mother Russia. On the other hand we have Poland. A preferential market by nature, Poland also controls many pipelines heading to Germany. Poland because of its alliance with the US and groing hotility towards Russia will always be favourable to Israel. Something Germany should take into account. Finally we have France. If in general terms France is somewhat pro-Israel, in its areas of influence such as Lebanon, France may be forced to take an anti Israel stance. France is lets say the swing vote in Germany's foreign policy. Angela Merkel may be forced to abandon Israel in a time of need if both Russia and France rally against the Hebrew state. The USA and eastern Europe may not be enough to hold Germany to its Israeliphilia... I’m affraid there are even other factors at play that may force Merkel to take a more neutral stance on Israel.

I admire Merkel for her broadly Realist approach to foreign affairs.

But because of this same, reasoning she may decide that the Israel cause is more counter-productive than fruitful to Germany.

Germany has important neighbours taking more clear cut approaches to dealing with Israel.

On one hand we have Russia, that through its Arab ties and military technology rivalry, does not favour Israel at all.
If we think that Russia has great influence in Germany due to its gas exports and geopolitical influence in eastern Europe, we’ll see that Germany needs to tread carefully with Mother Russia.

On the other hand we have Poland. A preferential market by nature, Poland also controls many pipelines heading to Germany.
Poland because of its alliance with the US and groing hotility towards Russia will always be favourable to Israel.
Something Germany should take into account.

Finally we have France. If in general terms France is somewhat pro-Israel, in its areas of influence such as Lebanon, France may be forced to take an anti Israel stance.

France is lets say the swing vote in Germany’s foreign policy.

Angela Merkel may be forced to abandon Israel in a time of need if both Russia and France rally against the Hebrew state.

The USA and eastern Europe may not be enough to hold Germany to its Israeliphilia…

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