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Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Gaza war testing Germany's long unconditional commitment to Israel
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz attends a press conference with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (not pictured), at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, May 28, Bensch BERLIN - A photograph of Zikim Beach in southwestern Israel near Gaza, attacked by Hamas militants in boats in both the 2014 and current Gaza wars, hangs on the wall of new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's office. The idyllic shot of a row of beach huts restored after the Hamas raids attests to the arch-conservative being a passionate supporter of Israel, in keeping with Germany's long-time solidarity in atonement for the Nazi-era Holocaust. So Merz's rebuke of Israel on Tuesday over its widening military operations in Gaza was a remarkable turnabout for many. "What the Israeli army is doing in the Gaza Strip, I no longer understand the goal," he said. "To harm the civilian population in such a way, as has increasingly been the case in recent days, can no longer be justified as a fight against terrorism." Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul then said there could be unspecified "consequences" in a sequence of conservative remarks coordinated with Social Democrat coalition partners, marking a rhetorical break from decades of unconditional German backing for a country to which Berlin feels committed by history. Separately, Merz's fellow German conservative, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, said deaths of children in the Gaza war have been "abhorrent", reflecting the breadth of disquiet in German elite circles. Alongside membership of NATO and the European Union, backing for Israel was the third pillar of Germany's quest for international rehabilitation after the Holocaust against Europe's Jews in World War Two. While some antisemitism lingered - Konrad Adenauer, post-war Germany's first chancellor, justified restitution payments for Israel that laid the foundation of German-Israeli relations by the need to appease "the power of the Jews" - the commitment to Israel's security shaped generations of German politicians. But the intensity of Israel's war in Gaza, which has killed over 53,000 Palestinians and was triggered by Hamas' October 7, 2023 cross-border attack that killed around 1,200 people, has contributed to a pronounced shift in German public opinion. Only 36% of Germans now have a positive view of Israel, a 10 percentage point fall from four years ago, a survey for the Bertelsmann Foundation found. Germans under 40 consider themselves less informed about Israel than the over-60s, and are also less likely to believe relations should be shaped by memory of the Holocaust. This shift has imposed a dilemma on Merz, who on winning February's national election had promised Benjamin Netanyahu he would help the Israeli prime minister defy an International Criminal Court arrest warrant if he visited Germany. "They understand they have two opposing obligations and have to choose between them," said Moshe Zimmermann, an eminent historian of Germany at Israel's Hebrew University. "In the past they would have said our obligation to Israel is primary. Now they have to weigh the alternatives differently." 'TIMES CHANGE' Germany and other European countries condemn Russia for violating international law with its invasion of Ukraine and have imposed unprecedented punitive sanctions on Moscow, seeking backing for isolating it from countries as diverse as South Africa, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. Western powers have not taken the same approach to Israel amidst steady accusations by rights and humanitarian groups of international law violations in its conduct of the war in Gaza, with many Palestinian civilian deaths, widespread devastation of infrastructure and a rising famine risk under Israeli blockade. "Times change," said Zimmermann. The trigger for German leaders' rhetorical shift came when a May 25 deadline passed without Israel heeding a European call to completely lift a blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Wadephul said there could be now no "obligatory solidarity" with Israel, while Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, the Social Democratic leader, said human rights standards were being violated in the Gaza Strip. The shift brings Germany into line with major European partners that have also been loath to pointedly criticise Israel over Gaza. France and Britain, joined by Canada, aired a similar message last week. Italy echoed it on Wednesday. In response, Netanyahu has accused British, French and Canadian leaders of being "on the wrong side of history". At a conference on antisemitism in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel was "the most attacked and threatened country in the world", adding: "The attempt to deny Israel its right to defend itself is horrific." Israel has denied violating international law in Gaza, saying it is targeting only Hamas militants and accusing them of using civilian buildings for operational cover. Hamas denies this. CULTURAL CHANGES IN GERMANY The change in Germany's tone also reflects a country that is far more ethnically and culturally diverse than in decades past. Fully a quarter of Germany's 80 million people now have a migration background - meaning at least one parent is an immigrant - and many of them are of Middle Eastern or Muslim heritage with an affinity for the Palestinians. "If you're asking a German-Syrian to come to terms with Germany's responsibility for the Holocaust, that's really strange," said Omer Bartov, a Holocaust historian at Brown University in the U.S. The consequences for German policy are unclear, Bartov said. Germany continues to sell weaponry to Israel, remains its largest European trade partner as well as on Israel's side in South Africa's genocide case against Israel in the International Criminal Court in The Hague. "It's a rhetorical shift and it could be very significant," Bartov said. "But the Israeli navy is made in Germany and right now the Israeli navy is firing shells into Gaza. "As long as they (Germany) don't take some (concrete) step, Netanyahu has no reason to worry right now." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Kuwait Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Austria's Eurovision winner wants 2026 edition ‘without Zionist entity'
Austrian singer Johannes Pietsch aka JJ, winner of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, reacts as he gives an interview after a press conference at the Chancellery in Vienna, Austria on May 19, 2025. --AFP This year's Eurovision Song Contest winner Austrian singer JJ called for the Zionist entity to be excluded from next year's competition in an interview published Thursday. He also expressed regret over Zionist entity 's participation in this year's competition despite the war in Gaza. Eurovision has faced criticism for allowing Zionist entity to participate in the contest despite the devastating Gaza war. This year, pro-Palestinian activists staged protests during the extravaganza in Switzerland over the weekend. Russia has not been allowed to participate in Eurovision since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. 'It is very disappointing to see that Zionist entity continues to participate in the contest,' the 24-year-old countertenor told Spanish daily El Pais in an interview. 'I would like next year's Eurovision to take place in Vienna without Zionist entity,' he added. 'But the ball is in the court' of the organizer, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), he said. 'We, the artists, can only express our views on the subject.' JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, also called for 'greater transparency' regarding the public vote, after Zionist singer Yuval Raphael was propelled into second place. 'This year, everything happened in a very strange way,' said JJ. The singer faced a backlash over his comments in Austria, one of Zionist entity 's staunchest supporters in Europe. The country's public broadcaster ORF distanced itself from his remarks, saying they 'reflected a personal opinion', APA news agency reported. JJ said he was 'sorry if his comments had been misinterpreted' via his record label Warner. On Monday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, one of the most outspoken critics of the Zionist government, said Zionist entity should be excluded from Eurovision. He expressed his solidarity with 'the people of Palestine who are experiencing the injustice of war and bombardment'. 'What we cannot allow is double standards in culture,' Sanchez said in reference to Russia's ban. Zionist entity has come under massive international pressure to abandon its intensified military campaign in Gaza and allow urgent humanitarian aid into the besieged strip. — AFP
Business Mayor
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Mayor
Trump's 5% NATO spend target 'very, very difficult' to meet, Greek PM says
Global Economy May 23, 2025 Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (not pictured) speak to the media following talks at the Chancellery on May 13, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. Sean Gallup | Getty Images News | Getty Images It would be challenging for NATO members to deliver on U.S. President's Donald Trump's defense spending demands, Greece's prime minister told CNBC. The White House leader has frequently called for NATO nations to increase their security contribution to 5% of their gross domestic product — a target Greece's Kyriakos Mitsotakis questions can be met. 'I think 5% frankly, is very, very difficult,' he said in an interview with CNBC's Silvia Amaro that was aired on 'Europe Early Edition' Friday. 'If we're talking about hard defense spending, I think 3.5% is probably the ceiling of … what could be sort of accepted,' Mitsotakis said. He nevertheless noted that the 5% mark could be a long-term target if broader expenses such as critical infrastructure were to fall under the spending umbrella. 'So it really depends on how we do the accounting,' he noted. NATO chief Mark Rutte has reportedly suggested that NATO members should increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, while committing an additional 1.5% to wider security-related matters. Many NATO countries have historically struggled to meet the alliance's currently lower 2% target, earning Trump's ire. NATO estimates suggest the U.S. spent around 3.4% of its GDP on defense in 2024, with only two other allies — Poland and Estonia — allocating a bigger share of their economic power to security matters over the period. Poland has also already committed to boosting its defense spending to a level as high as 5% in the coming years, while other countries have been more cautious, warning that such expenditures could be difficult for them to manage. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul last week also indicated that the country was backing Trump's target. The result of Rutte's suggestion was 'indeed the 5% demanded by President Trump, that he believes are necessary, and we are following him in this respect,' he said. A decision about new defense spending targets could be made at the next NATO summit in late June. Speaking to CNBC, Greece's Mitsotakis said Trump was right to demand more defense expenditures from NATO allies. 'Donald Trump was right when in 2017 he said you're not doing your fair share, because we didn't,' he said. 'We understand now that there is no free lunch and we cannot free ride.' Greece itself spent nearly 3.1% of its GDP on defense last year, NATO estimates. Athens has been consistently exceeding the 2% target for many years and began ramping up defense expenses further in 2020 amid long-running tensions with its neighbor Turkey over issues including maritime borders. 'We spend more than 3% for very specific reasons, and we were also advocating very much for a change in European rules to encourage us to be able to spend more,' Mitsotakis said, adding that there had been some progress in this area. European Union fiscal rules have for years restricted the extent of debt and budgetary deficits that a member country can incur. Recently, the European Commission has made moves toward easing fiscal constraints as part a wider security package. Read More Why merger mania is coming to the fore in the mining industry Speaking to CNBC, Mitsotakis — who has previously said the European Commission's plans could be more ambitious — noted it was also important to continue discussions about a potential European facility to support defense spending. READ SOURCE
Kuwait Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Austria's Eurovision winner receives hero's welcome
Austrian singer JJ returned to Vienna on Sunday to a hero's welcome, greeted by hundreds of cheering fans after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel. The 24-year-old countertenor, who performed under his stage name but whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, stepped off the plane clutching a bouquet of red roses and his trophy, smiling as supporters pressed against security barriers to get a glimpse. Inside the arrivals hall, the crowd erupted as JJ raised his trophy and thanked fans for believing in him. 'Thank you all for coming. Thank you for believing in me and for being so kind,' he told the crowd, his voice thick with emotion. Supporters waved heart-shaped balloons and rainbow flags as his winning song, 'Wasted Love', played over the loudspeakers. 'I watched the reactions on social media and everyone was stunned by his voice, in America, in Australia, everywhere,' said Samira Kalmar, 52, who said she had never doubted he would win. Barbara Mayer, 53, who came with her two daughters, also praised the artist whose performance, reaching soprano highs between ballad refrains before culminating in a techno finale, won over the audience. 'The opera reminded people of Vienna, but there was also a modern component and good staging,' she said. Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker (third right), Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Culture Minister Andreas Babler (second left), state secretary Elisabeth Zehetner (left), ORF General Director Roland Weissmann (right hidden) and Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (second right) pose for a selfie with singer Johannes Pietsch aka JJ (third left), winner of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, during a press conference at the Chancellery in Vienna, Austria on May 19, 2025. Austrian singer Johannes Pietsch aka JJ, winner of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, poses with his trophy after a press conference at the Chancellery in Vienna, Austria on May 19, 2025. Pietsch will be honored at the chancellery on Monday, where Chancellor Christian Stocker will receive him in the morning, having praised his 'magnificent achievement' the previous day. Vienna's mayor, Michael Ludwig, said the city was ready to host Eurovision, although other cities, including Innsbruck in Tyrol, are also contenders - particularly after Basel showed the contest need not always take place in a capital. At the public broadcaster ORF however, there are concerns about the high cost of staging Eurovision at a time when the organization is facing budget cuts and Austria's finances remain tight. In Switzerland, the cost was estimated at several tens of millions of euros, with expenses shared between public television, the host city, and other partners. The Austrian government has sought to reassure the public. Culture and Media Minister Andreas Babler expressed confidence that a 'solution will be found' to organize the event. — AFP
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New German Chancellor Merz leaves for first trip to Paris, Warsaw
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways The day after his dramatic election in parliament as German chancellor, Friedrich Merz set off on the first trip abroad of his administration on Wednesday, heading first for France and then Poland. In Paris, Merz plans to talk to French President Emmanuel Macron about, among other things, how Europe can become more independent following the radical change of course in US foreign policy under President Donald Trump. In Warsaw, Prime Minister Donald Tusk is likely to discuss migration as well as the Russian war against Ukraine. Merz had previously announced that there would be a tightening of border checks and increased turning back of migrants from his first day in office. Poland is sceptical about the measures, however. Merz was elected chancellor on the second attempt on Tuesday, after he suffered a historic defeat in a first round of voting in the lower house. By the evening, however, he had been formally appointed chancellor and his predecessor Olaf Scholz had handed over the reins of power in the Chancellery, which will be Merz's headquarters for the next four years. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz boards an air force aircraft as he departs for inaugural visits to Paris and Warsaw. His agenda includes discussions on the repositioning of Europe, the Russian war in Ukraine, and migration policy. Michael Kappeler/dpa
