Palestinians: Germany too biased for diplomacy
Published: 20 Nov 12 12:04 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20121120-46271.html
Germany's alliance with Israel means it cannot help calm the escalating hostilities in and around the Gaza Strip, a leading Palestinian said on Tuesday as diplomatic efforts were ramped up to stop the fighting.
- Merkel blames Hamas for Gaza Strip violence - Politics (16 Nov 12)
- German subs key for Israel, says Netanyahu - National (5 Jun 12)
- Most Germans view Israel as 'aggressive' - National (23 May 12)
Israeli fighter jets destroyed the Gaza headquarters of the National Islamic Bank on Tuesday, and the death toll there rose to more than 100, while rockets hitting Israel have killed three.
German engineering giant Siemens confirmed that around half of its 70 German employees had left Israel to go home.
A spokesman told Tuesday's Berliner Morgenpost newspaper the firm did not think the situation was dangerous enough to send them home, but had given them the option to leave.
About half had left their work servicing a gas power station at the small town of Rezer between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, which is within the range of rockets being fired from Gaza.
Diplomats across the globe have called for a cease-fire from both sides, terrified of the regional consequences of a potential Israeli ground invasion. French and Egyptian politicians have been heavily involved in trying to broker a cease-fire.
But Westerwelle was wasting his time trying to get involved, Frangi told the Rheinische Post newspaper.
He accused the German government and Chancellor Angela Merkel of ignoring the suffering of the people in Gaza and of following a one-sided policy.
"Ms. Merkel sees the right of Israel to act, but obviously she doesn't see the pictures from the Gaza Strip," he said.
Westerwelle said on his arrival in Jerusalem: "We stand by the side of our friends in Israel. Israel has the right to defend itself and its population."
Ahead of meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abbas, Westerwelle called for further efforts to be made to quickly reach a cease-fire. He also said Egypt must use its influence in the region to try to stop the violence.
The Local/DAPD/DPA/hc
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Your comments about this article:
Germany has about as much credibilty as the US in trying to negotiate a peace settlemet between the two warring factions. The US has sided with Israel 110% of the time since 1948 and can never be the successful mediator. Similarily Germany with its perpetual WWII guilt complex will never ever criticize Israel for anything that they do that continues to fuel the fire, such as the ever expanding Israeli settlements in Palestinians captured land.
While it is understandable for the German government to have a bad conscience, where Jews are concerned, because the Holocaust cannot in any way be defended, what Israel has been doing with the native people, in the areas of Palestine taken over since 1948, is no better.
A short look at the borders of Israel today, in comparison to those accepted by the UNO at the time the state was founded, is enough to show where the roots of the trouble are to be found.
Moslems claim to have a religion of e peace. The Jews too are, according to the commandments given to them by Moses, not allowed to kill, but It would appear that neither side take their religion seriously.
Unfortunately the same can be said of politicians who condemn Nazi crimes against humanity, but accept similar atrocities by friendly states. The best description of such an attitude would be hypocrisy and there Westerwelle is not alone.
You do realize that Hamas is trying to instigate a fight. But I guess to you that just means Israel should just take the abuse. They deserve it, no? You do realize that Israel is over 20% Muslim, right?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/20/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-conflict.html?hp&_r=0
I am all for Israel taking care of business. I just made a comment on the German guilt trip that many keep trying to dwell in. Hamas is no friend to the Israeli, nor the Palestinian.
what about the Kasam and
This overused label is not only ranked in the same category as a Nazi or racist, but seems to be worse than the other two put together. It's as if whatever injustices that Israel has perpetrated with impunity on the Palestinians since 1948 has had the blessing of God and cannot be questioned.
I don't support terrorism, but an unfortunate fact of life is that terrorism is a consequence of injustice perpetrated on the weak and underrepresented by the powerful, and in control.
If you are not even willing to speak to one side in the conflict, how can you possibly mediate?
In fairness to Westerwelle, he is not the only one, Hillary Clinton is also flying in to do the same stupid thing.
Maybe they can play act using finger puppets, Hillary playing Israel and Guido playing the role of Hamas.
There is as much chance solving the problem that way as what they are doing now.
We have evolved to this great state through mass cooperation. We can not turn back now,
Humanitarian leadership is admirable, it should be respected and embraced than undermined.
Although we are getting better through time, the world has not escaped the inevitable horrors of armed conflict.
Netanyaho defend our country, he used our armed forces in very caution mode when he retaliated in Gazza,he could have ordered the IAF to wipe Gazza from the map ,that could have been done in 48 hours,and then a big human tragedy and end to Gazza terrorism ,by the way you never mention our civilian targeting in purpose by the Hamas every day for 13 years with causulties among women ,children and old people, but that does not bother you because they are Israelies.
You are probably one of our enemies but we got many many friends all around the world, and yes we will defend our houses,families and land against all our enemies.
ISRAEL south
Bernie, Bernie, Bernie, how you are so easily led astray. Yes Netanyahu just woke up one morning and for no reason decided to slaughter some Arabs living in the region of Palestine.
And talk about masters of fabricating rage, when they are not hiding behind their women and children, they are mastering their propaganda techniques.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brad-wilmouth/2012/11/19/cnns-cooper-retracts-video-palestinian-man-faking-injury
@repatriated
First up: There is no such thing as siding with 110 percent of the time. It caps at 100.
Second up: (…..expanding Israeli settlements in Palestinians captured land.)
Oh here we go again. The fable that Palestinian refers to anything other than a made-up people continues to influence many. How entertaining it is to read the sheep try and rewrite history as though there were ever such a thing as an ethnic-Palestinian who was a citizen of a sovereign Palestine.
Third up: (…is that terrorism is a consequence of injustice perpetrated on the weak and underrepresented by the powerful)
Oh yaaaawn. Did you just land from your time-transporter? How was the ride? You speak as though Islam is a 21st century phenomenon. Long before America or Israel ever existed, there was Arab-Islamic terrorism. And the absence of America and/or Israel would not change that one bit, but rather redirect it.
Tell me, why do the Palastinians send rockets to Israel? Could it have something to do with the fact that Israel stole their land and settled it with their own people and keeps harassing the Palatinians and keeps intimidating them at every turn? When you compare the casualty figures you should realize that this can't go on. Carter had suggested a fair settlement and Israel reneged on it. And you are surprised at the hostility? Netanyaho has to make the first move and he has to be sincere and be willing to talk to Hamaz and make some serious concessions. Germany and the US certainly are not the right parties but Egypt might just be act as the mediator or, maybe Jordan.Of course, Hamaz has to concede that Israel has every right to exist. I bet it can be done if we and Germany stay out of it.
Germany learned that lesson the hard way, and came to value life over death.
Problem is, too many Germans fear to use force to end evil, and cannot make enough babies to out-number immigrants from the Muslim world.
Germany is the Canary in the Coal Mine for the USA. When Germany collapses as a civil society, the rest of the West will follow.
Israel & Palestine: A history of occupation
http://rt.com/programs/breaking-set-summary/human-devolution-palestine-history/
Starts at the 7:44 mark. :)
http://mondoweiss.net/2012/11/4-myths-about-the-israeli-attack-on-gaza.html
I fell the End is coming, war is eveywhere and hatred is all over the place.
and firing rockets on us in all cities around Gazza for 13 years, killing people and wounding civilians, is not crime?