A video by Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck on the Middle East conflict has every two million clicks. He doesn’t just get positive reactions from within his own ranks.
In a widely watched video, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck strongly condemned anti-Semitism in Germany and called for solidarity with Jews. “Anti-Semitism should not be tolerated in any form, in any form. The extent of the Islamist demonstrations in Berlin and other cities in Germany is unacceptable and needs a tough political response,” said the Federal Economics Minister and Green Party politician in a video released by his ministry on Wednesday evening on X (formerly Twitter).
According to the platform, the video received two million views by late evening and was shared thousands of times. Politicians, including those from the CDU, praised the appeal.
Habeck said that the Muslim associations in Germany also needed a response to anti-Semitism. Some clearly distanced themselves from the actions of Hamas and anti-Semitism. “But not all of them, and some are too hesitant and I think overall too few.” Muslims in Germany must clearly distance themselves from anti-Semitism in order not to undermine their own claim to tolerance. “There is no place for religious intolerance in Germany.”
Burning Israeli flags is a criminal offense, as is praising Hamas’ actions. “Anyone who is German will have to answer for this in court; anyone who is not German will also risk their residence status. Anyone who does not yet have a residence permit is a reason to be deported.”
Since the Islamist Hamas attack on Israel, there have been repeated anti-Semitic and anti-Israel actions at pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Berlin, among other places. Against this background, the police have repeatedly issued prohibitory orders against certain demonstrations, while others were allowed to take place.
Anti-Semitism also from other political groups
Islamist anti-Semitism should not obscure the fact that there is also entrenched anti-Semitism in Germany, even if right-wing extremists are now holding back for tactical reasons in order to be able to incite hatred against Muslims, said Habeck.
“I am also concerned about anti-Semitism in parts of the political left, and unfortunately also among young activists.” Anti-colonialism should not lead to anti-Semitism. The death and suffering that is coming to the people in the Gaza Strip is terrible. “Systematic violence against Jews cannot be legitimized,” said Habeck.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made similar comments on ZDF. “Anti-Semitism runs through all social groups, it runs through all nationalities here in Germany. That’s why all forms of anti-Semitism, whether it comes from the right, from the left, from immigrants or from people born here, must be combated,” said she in the show “What now, …?”.
Habeck criticizes UN resolution
In the broadcast, Baerbock once again defended Germany’s abstention in the vote on the Gaza resolution in the UN General Assembly. Germany has the special role of keeping open the channels of communication with other actors in the region such as Egypt or Jordan, she said.
The UN resolution, adopted by a two-thirds majority on Friday last week, condemns all violence against the Israeli and Palestinian civilian populations, calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all “illegally detained” civilians and demands unhindered humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip. It also calls for an “immediate permanent and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire” that should lead to a “cessation of hostilities”. There is no clear condemnation of Hamas’ terror as the cause of the war.
Habeck said he agreed that one also needs to see how the other side thinks in order to make any progress in the current conflict. When asked about Germany’s abstention, Habeck also said that abstention does not mean that Germany wants to stay out, but on the contrary that it wants to help find a solution.
At the same time, he criticized the resolution in the ZDF program “Markus Lanz”. Israel’s partners such as Germany and the USA have repeatedly appealed to the Israeli government to avoid civilian casualties and that was right, he said. There is a difference on the political level in that Hamas was concerned with “slaughtering people,” said Habeck. “And that’s why it’s not a good resolution, because it’s not political. It doesn’t penetrate or name the political problem.”
Reactions to Habeck video at X: “argumentatively strong”
Habeck’s video received a wide response at X. For the second time since October 7th, the day of the Hamas attack on Israel, Robert Habeck struck the right note “like no other in this federal government,” wrote CDU vice-chairwoman Karin Prien.
“A strong, necessary performance”. The former CDU chairman Armin Laschet wrote in reference to the UN resolution: “That doesn’t sound like abstention or like ‘not just one point of view’.” It is the “necessary, argumentatively strong and well-founded domestic and foreign policy stance of Germany.” This must be heard and supported across all party lines.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
