Germany – for what almost seems like the first time – has today publicly criticised Israeli plans to build settlements in the occupied West Bank. This a week before both countries’ leaders will meet in Berlin.
The modern Germany Federal Republic has a special bond with Israel and has always been extra careful to avoid any criticism of the country. The legacy of the Holocaust, the 6 million murdered Jews has hung over the relationship and therefore Germany has meticulously maintained this “special-relationship.”
Because of this extraordinary historical circumstances which Germany finds itself in – namely as the perpetuator, the aggressor of some of the most horrific treatment of any one human group ever against another – it has traditionally been mute on the many recent offences of the Jewish state against Palestinians. However some German politicians have recently adopted a more critical stance.
The comments, critical of the construction of 900 new homes in East Jerusalem, come on the day of German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle’s first trip to Israel.
A spokesman for Angela Markel’s office said at a news conference that Germany views settlement building in East Jerusalem as a major stumbling block towards a sustainable peace in the Middle East. He said that the German chancellor would discuss the matter with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week.
Netanyahu and other top Israeli cabinet ministers will travel to Berlin next week to meet their German counterparts.
U.S. President Barack Obama has already criticised Israel’s latest plans and he almost refused to meet the odious right-wing Netanyahu when he visited Washington some weeks ago.
Netanyahu has rejected any moderation in the building of settlements and says that Israel has to accommodate what he calls the “natural growth” of settler families. This criticism, from an up-til now faithful ally, will hopefully have an effect.
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