Iruni Kalupahana, JadeTimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Israel-Gaza War
Germany's Stance on the Palestine Solidarity Movement
Germany has maintained an assertive stance against pro Palestinian demonstrations, often citing the need to counter anti Semitism. In cities like Berlin, pro Palestinian rallies are regularly met with heavy police presence, and any critical voices are promptly silenced. Earlier this year, the Palestine Assembly conference in Berlin was dispersed by hundreds of police officers, with speakers like Ghassan Abu Sitta, a Palestinian British surgeon and humanitarian, prevented from attending. Abu Sitta had volunteered in Gaza's hospitals, hoping to shed light on the devastating impact of Israeli bombings on Gaza's healthcare. His ban, which initially extended to the entire Schengen area, was only overturned after public backlash. Similar actions have targeted international figures, such as former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, who was also barred from attending or even participating via video link.
Historical Roots of Germany’s Pro Israel Support
The roots of Germany’s unwavering support for Israel are often traced back to the post World War II period, yet the full story reveals deeper political motives. Following the Nazi era, the Allied forces mandated a process of denazification, hoping to eradicate fascist ideologies. However, with the onset of the Cold War, this process was largely abandoned in favor of Germany’s strategic role within NATO. Chancellor Konrad Adenauer’s advisor Hans Globke, instrumental in drafting the 1935 Nuremberg Race Laws, was a symbol of this continuity, despite his Nazi involvement, he held a powerful position in post war Germany. Reparations payments started in 1953 went not directly to individual survivors of the Holocaust but to the state of Israel, often in the form of industrial goods and military support, reinforcing the close political alliance. This support became embedded in German policy, known as "reason of state," and cemented Germany's alignment with Israel.
Germany’s Colonial Genocide and Its Links to the Holocaust
Germany's history of genocide did not begin with the Holocaust, it has roots in its colonial past in Southwest Africa, present day Namibia. Between 1904 and 1907, German forces led by General Lothar von Trotha carried out brutal campaigns against the Herero and Nama people, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands through forced marches and concentration camps. The camps were sites of horrific treatment, where scientific experiments were conducted on the prisoners, including studies by Eugen Fischer, who later influenced Nazi racial science. This period introduced the concept of "lebensraum," or "living space," later embraced by the Nazis. The colonial governor, Heinrich Goring, was the father of Nazi leader Hermann Goring, linking the colonial genocides directly to the atrocities of the Third Reich. Historian Elizabeth Baer referred to this colonial violence as a "dress rehearsal" for the Holocaust, with German imperial actions foreshadowing methods and ideologies later used against Jews and other marginalized groups during World War II.
Current Realities and Moral Dilemmas in German Policy
Germany’s ongoing support for Israel is increasingly scrutinized as evidence of humanitarian abuses in Gaza mounts. Reports from Gaza highlight mass civilian casualties, targeting of infrastructure, and starvation due to blockades, sparking international accusations of genocide. South Africa recently presented a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of ethnic cleansing, with disturbing parallels drawn to the Holocaust. Israeli officials have made inflammatory statements that evoke disturbing echoes of Nazi language, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant calling Palestinians "human animals" and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich defending starvation tactics. Despite such evidence, Germany remains resolute in its support, largely due to its post war policies and alliance with Israel. Many critics argue that this stance allows Germany to downplay its own history of genocide, viewing current events in Gaza as justified acts of self defense.
