Ln March 13, 2008, Angela Merkel declared before the Knesset that the security of Israel was, for Germany, a “reason of state”. Fifteen years later, his successor, Olaf Scholz, took up the formula from the podium of the Bundestag, on October 12, five days after the Hamas terrorist attack. “There is only one place for Germany: to be alongside Israel. This is what we mean when we say that Israel’s security is a “reason of state” for Germany. Our own history, our responsibility born from the Holocaust, requires us to act as guarantors for the existence and security of Israel. This responsibility is our compass. »
After words, actions. On October 17, the German chancellor was the first foreign head of government to visit Israel after the Hamas assault. Military aid was added to political support. This has jumped since October 7: in one month, Berlin has given its agreement to 185 arms export contracts to Israel, almost six times more than between January and September, without this causing the slightest discussion. The contrast is striking with the debate that ignited Germany over arms deliveries to Ukraine following the Russian invasion of February 24, 2022. At the time, it was with great caution and At the cost of strong tensions with his parliamentary majority, Mr. Scholz decided to break with the principle according to which Germany does not send military equipment to regions at war.
Since October 7, the German government has not only used history to justify its support for Israel. He also refers to it to legitimize his intransigence in the fight against anti-Semitism. Seen from Berlin, these are two sides of the same coin, as the green vice-chancellor, Robert Habeck, said on 1er November, in a very notable speech: “Our special relationship with Israel stems from our historical responsibility: it was my grandparents’ generation who wanted to destroy Jewish life in Germany and Europe. The creation of Israel was then, after the Holocaust, a promise of protection to the Jews – and Germany has a duty to ensure that this promise is kept. It is a historical foundation of our Republic. Our responsibility to history also means that Germany’s Jews can live freely and securely. That they should never again be afraid to openly display their religion and culture. But it is precisely this fear that is back today. »
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