Germany's Stabilization of Israel by the International Court of Justice in The Hague is not Obvious Obviously • Hopefully we will find contact channels for the next generation of state leaders • Interpretation
Germany's standing with Israel in the International Criminal Court in The Hague and the support of Berlin in the Israeli position - according to which this tribunal is not empowered to discuss "alleged war crimes" by Israel, the main one of which is "settlement crime" - is not at all obvious.
The Hague International Court will investigate war crimes in Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip
Just less than a year ago, the German ambassador to the UN and former Chancellor Angela Merkel's political adviser, Christophe Hoisegan, compared Israel to North Korea and most resolutely defended invented international law, which contradicts official international law, according to which the settlements are illegal. To argue to the judges in The Hague that it is not their authority to hear the complaints of the Palestinians and their collaborators, since there is no such thing as the "State of Palestine".
After years of pretty intense cold in the relationship between Jerusalem and Berlin, something good is happening: The Bundestag was the first parliament to define the anti-Semitic BDS movement and call for cessation of government and public funding for its affiliated bodies; The Bundestag passed a strong decision calling for increased control of the movement's operations and its people in Germany, calling on the government to give up the distinction between the political arm and the military arm of the movement and ban them both; At international forums, Germany began very carefully to change its traditional vote against Israel; And today, Iran has a rather harsh tone and a slow approach to Israeli-American approach.
The International Court of Justice in The Hague // Photo: GettyImages
What exactly is behind this change? First, a clear and determined policy of the American government. Moreover, among the German government and the public - in view of the Arab Spring break, the waves of Islamic terrorism that also hit Germany and the huge emigration from the Middle East to all the problems involved, there has been a slow but consistent change in favor of Israel.
More Germans today understand Israel's situation and understand that Germany can gain a lot from it, not only in the military, but especially in the economy. The changes in the German political map have also led to a situation where the status quo in relation to Israel, which has led the Germans to become the great guardians of the Palestinians And to use the EU to pass problematic decisions for Israel, breaks down: If there used to be a general party consensus of only ceremonial commitment to Israel and practical support for the Palestinians, the much support that the new right-wing party's alternative to Germany has for Israel has forced most other parties to align A to Israel.
The Merkel era, which was generally good for Israel, is about to end, and perhaps sooner than expected. It is not certain that those who take Merkel's place will have the same sense of commitment to Israel. After the Israeli elections, it is hoped that a new government will be able to find channels for the next generation of leaders in Germany, understanding the nascent political map and not relying on past behavioral patterns. And it is also hoped that Germany will know how to extend its line change to the EU.