Pistorius at Caren Miosga: “Israel is surrounded by enemies”

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius assumes that the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities was banned. It is never a good thing when a confrontation escalates militarily, said the SPD politician in the ARD program “Caren Miosga”. But when it was true what Israel and the USA said, Iran was far ahead on the way to the atomic bomb.

“The decisive factor, I think, is first that a great threat has been eliminated here,” said Pistorius. “And that (…) is good news for the Middle East and the Middle East, but also for Europe.”

One has to remember that Iran declared the annihilation of Israel a state goal 45 years ago. “Israel is surrounded by enemies. Israel is constantly threatened in its existence,” said Pistorius. “Iran is the great supporter and actually the drivers of the proxys, the Hisbollah, the Hamas and especially the Huthis in Yemen. This is a massive threat to Israel’s security.”

When asked about the legitimacy of the attacks under international law, the Defense Minister said Israel had a right to self -defense that the Americans had taken on responsibility in the region.

In terms of content, Pistorius thus stood behind Chancellor Merz (CDU), who had said that Israel did the “dirty work” with his attacks against Iranian nuclear facilities. However, he would have chosen other words, said Pistorius.

The Defense Minister also commented on the compulsory debate. In his upcoming bill for a more attractive military service, he also incorporates mechanisms for a possible return of compulsory military service. The SPD politician said. But he also said: “My goal is (() the law that I now bring in, already contain two regulations that only have to be activated if the numbers are not enough.”

The Bundeswehr also needs about 60,000 active soldiers, explained Pistorius. Therefore, the service for volunteers should be made more attractive with better payment and accommodation. Long -term goal is to build up a stick of 200,000 reservists, and compulsory military service comes into play if there are not enough volunteers.

Then there shouldn’t be a lengthy new legislative procedure. Pistorius emphasized that he could not make a definitive decision at the present time, “but I can’t rule it out”.

In contrast to SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch, the minister, who sees a return to compulsory military service in the black and red coalition agreement for this election period. However, the SPD chairman and vice-chancellor Lars Klingbeil recently asked for preparations for a possible resumption of compulsory military service.