The Conflict As Seen by German Media
June 7, 2012 12:50 by GuestPostIn the wake of newly elected German President Joachim Gauck’s visit to Israel, this guest article was written exclusively for HonestReporting by Ulrich Sahm. Son of a well-known diplomat, Sahm was born in Bonn, Germany and grew up in London, Paris, Moscow and Ankara. Sahm came to Israel in 1970, first as a student and later as Middle East correspondent for various German media outlets and has lived in Jerusalem observing war and peace, uprisings and Israel’s hi-tech revolution.
The worst curse for a German is to call him “anti-Semite”. Yet nobody really knows what that is. Many claim that it is “forbidden” to criticize Israel. Those who “resist” by breaking this non-existent taboo, like the authors Günter Grass or Martin Walser, are considered “courageous heroes” but dislike being called anti-Semites because of the obvious undertones.
German media reflects the German mentality.
After World War II the Germans turned into blind pacifists. They were reluctant to join NATO forces in Serbia, Somalia and Afghanistan. They sent “reconstruction workers” or medical personnel. They do not admit that they would rather let their American and other friends do the dirty work fighting and getting killed, while protecting the Germans.
The lesson of WWII atrocities was not learnt from what the German Army had done to Russians or Poles. They rather experienced the “horrors of war” when their own cities were bombed. The British bombing of Dresden in fact is often called a “holocaust”.
Many Germans adhere to the Christian belief to have mercy for the weak. Before 1967, the majority sided with Israel. But that changed instantly when Israel was victorious and conquered “Arab Land”. In an Internet forum, a virulently anti-Israel activist wrote: “The moment the Palestinians defeat the Jews, I would immediately change sides.”
Germans feel guilt towards Jews because of the Holocaust. Therefore they feel a responsibility for Palestinians, as “victims of the victims”. Germans do not deny the Holocaust. They rather blame the Jews for shaming them. The Germans do not like to be reminded of that shame, e.g. when the Israeli Prime Minister warns of another “Holocaust” in case Iran should destroy Tel Aviv with an atom bomb. One often quoted formula says: “The Germans will never forgive the Jews for Auschwitz”.
Perfect as they are, the Germans have created the most efficient democracy in the world. Yet some do not forgive the Americans for forcing democracy on them after WWII. The left-wing revolution of the “young generation” in 1968 resulted in strong “anti-imperialist” feelings, which turned anti-American. While the Vietnam War raged, they sided with Ho Chi Min, Mao Tse Tung and even with the Soviet regime. In this framework sympathy grew with “freedom fighters” like Yasser Arafat and the PLO.
The greatest power in German media lies with the DPA, the German Press Agency. Many editors suffer from a disease called “Agenturgläubigkeit”, a blind belief in absolute truth of agency reports.
The so called “cottage cheese uprising” last summer in Israel was quickly compared to the Arab Spring, claiming that it was all about “illegal settlements in the occupied territories” and overthrowing the “right wing regime of Benjamin Netanyahu”. Needless to say, these were incorrect assumptions.
Adam
12:44 am
Jun 12, 2012
Adele
You can find a lot of information about the German plan to establish a Germany sponsored Jewish State during WW1. Before WW1 Germany was a center of the Zionist movement.
During WW1 Germany pressed Turkey to comply but it was too late.
When British learned about Germany’s plan they came with the Balfour declaration and started offensive and occupied Jerusalem.
You know what happened next. British lied and 6 millions Jews died in the Holocaust.
Anyway, Jews served in the German Army. Now it’s time for Germans to serve in the Israeli Army.
“Honestreporting” should ask German historians and media to tell to the German people about the plan to establish a Germany sponsored Jewish State.
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Enoch
2:15 am
Jun 12, 2012
“When Hamas fires rockets at Israeli towns, it is not worth reporting” this sort of information is supposed to come from the Israeli side. For this Israel is supposed to have an international News-agency (I don’t know whether “Reuters” is owned by another self-hating Jew). I say this quite often, Israel needs a globally active news channel to counter the ever boring agendas of the BBC, CNN, Al-Jazeera and co. At the moment Israel is losing the propaganda war.
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Adela
4:48 am
Jun 12, 2012
Enoch I agree with you! Israel needs a Propaganda Dept. very very badly! Also needs this:
YOUNG/HEALTHY/STRONG JEWS AND SYMPATHIZERS OF THE WORLD: STOP WHINING OR CRITICIZING ISRAEL – NO GOVERNMENT WILL HELP US. NO ANTISEMITES EVER CHANGE. LEAVE YOUR ROTTEN COUNTRIES AND GO TO ISRAEL TO STAY AND PROCREATE IN ABUNDANCE, NONSTOP. GO FIGHT FIERCELY AS NEVER BEFORE. EMPOWER ISRAEL TO REGAIN ITS RIGHTFULLY-WON TERRITORIES AND CONQUER MORE! ISRAEL NEEDS NOT ONLY TO EXIST BUT TO PREVAIL IN FULL FORCE, AND INCREASING POWER CONTINUALLY TO ASSURE NOT BEING ATTACKED BY ANYONE!!! ISRAEL NEEDS YOU AND YOU NEED ISRAEL, AND IT’S ONLY FAIR THAT YOU, YOUNG AND HEALTHY YIDS, GO AND HELP IT NOW! HOW ELSE DID AMERICA BECOME GREAT? THOSE THINKING WE CAN CHANGE EVIL… ARE NAIVE AT BEST (I CALL THEM DANGEROUS (USEFUL?) IDIOTS!!! http://wordfromjerusalem.com/?p=4033
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Adela
5:14 am
Jun 12, 2012
Enoch, as to self-hating jews, as much as I have UNLIMITED hatred towards those primitive savages cut throats…I hate a whole lot more the renegade filthy jews that can betray their own suffering people! And denying the future Jewish generations the blessing of having their own, strong country! I’m practically friendless now because I got rid of who I thought to be my friends. When I’d ask them to sign a petition or send them an article to open their eyes…they refuse saying “What about the poor palestinians under Israel’s occupation?” My blood boils and decided I don’t need this. Yes, there’s an incredible number of those self-haters and I cannot tolerate them at all!!! I hope they’ll be first to fry at the holocaust arab muslim style!!!
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Adela
5:18 pm
Jun 12, 2012
TO ADAM, GOONER-EL and OTHERS:
Did anyone do something to this page to appear on both Page 1 and Page 2??? I want to answer to GOONER-EL and can’t find it. Please someone help? Thanks.
Adela lovezion
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