Germany passes controversial resolution in support of Israel

The German parliament has approved a controversial resolution supporting Israel, despite warnings that it violates fundamental freedoms and could stifle any criticism of the occupying regime.

The non-binding motion, titled “Never Again is Now: Protecting, Preserving, and Strengthening Jewish Life in Germany”, calls for a ban on public funding for any group "that spreads anti-Semitism, calls into question Israel's right to exist or calls for a boycott of Israel."

The resolution was passed on Thursday, with support from the center-left ruling Social Democrats (SPD), the conservative CDU-CSU, the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP).

The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance for Understanding and Justice (BSW) party voted against the text, while the Die Linke party abstained.

The resolution urges the government to continue actively defending the existence of Israel and its “security” interests as a fundamental principle of Germany’s foreign and security policy.

According to the resolution, those responsible for what is described as “anti-Semitic” acts in schools and universities should be excluded from classes or even expelled.

Many civil society organizations and intellectuals, including prominent Jewish scholars, have decried the resolution, warning that it may violate fundamental rights such as free expression, free assembly, freedom of science and artistic freedom.

The resolution would "weaken, rather than strengthen, the diversity of Jewish life in Germany by associating all Jews with the actions" of the Israeli regime, almost 100 Jewish artists and intellectuals living in Germany said in a statement.

German chancellor vows to continue arms exports to Israel

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says his country will continue to provide Israel with weapons, despite opposing calls that demand a halt of arms sales to the occupying regime amid its genocidal war on Gaza.

Rights groups also slammed branding criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic.

"Branding legitimate criticism of Israel’s human rights record as anti-Semitic also undermines the fight against genuine anti-Semitism," more than 100 civil society organizations said in an open letter in October 2023.

The resolution comes as protesters and dozens of human rights groups have urged Germany to stop arming Israel over its genocidal war on Gaza.

Germany has been a staunch supporter of Israel for decades. Its lethal arms exports to the occupied territories have seen a tenfold increase after Israel launched its war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, making it an active participant in the genocide unfolding in the besieged Palestinian territory.

Israel launched the war after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

The regime’s bloody onslaught on Gaza has so far killed at least 43,469 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 102,561 others.

Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under rubble.

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