You don't even need to go back 81 years. The post-war Germans were also horrifyingly antisemitic for decades. It wasn't until the late stages of the Cold War that the German Christian Democrats felt the need to clean up their own rotten reputation and rebrand as zealously pro-Zionist. Curiously enough, this was just about the same time anti-Muslim bigotry was coming into vogue, and anti-semitism accusations could be leveraged to denounce Middle Eastern government leaders sitting on large oil reserves.
Just a side note, the German Zionism is deeply antisemitic, as it forbids to draw a line between the state of Israel and Jews as a whole, implicitly suggesting that all Jews were accountable for the crimes of the state.
The German president holds a largely ceremonial role that allows more freedom for criticism compared with other politicians in the nation. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also raised concerns about the war but emphasized maintaining relations with the U.S.
Merz is a member of the conservative Christian Democratic Union of Germany.
But Steinmeier, a member of the center-left Social Democratic Party, called the war a “politically disastrous mistake” that had irrevocably harmed transatlantic relations.
Merz later said he supported Iranian regime change at the hands of the U.S. and Israel.
Following a meeting with the German chancellor at the White House last week, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Germany has “been great” and levied criticism toward other European allies, including the U.K. and Spain.
I suspect this is the reason why presidents in Europe (Italy, Germany, Ireland etc.) sometimes (rarely) call out this shit as morally reprehensible or illegal. Because they're just figureheads for the government and don't actually do anything about it. Meanwhile the PMs (which have actual executive power) actively collaborate with US/Israel and continue imperialism as normal.
Presidents are like the popes of liberal democracies: lots of fancy words to keep the masses placated, zero possibility of change.
I mean it's good for them to say it but I have my doubts appealing to the letter of the law will work on this bunch, hopefully they're saying it for the others in the room.
38 Comments
kmartburrito@lemmy.world · 99 pts · 159d
Throw it on the pile, which is nearly space elevator in height at this point
orlyowl@piefed.ca · 1 pts · 158d
Seriously. Zero consequences for Trump no matter what laws are broken. Ever.
CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world · 44 pts · 159d
We haven't had international law for some time now. Russia, China, US, Israel and a few others don't even have domestic law.
Some see today's headlines as global chaos. I see this as the calm before the storm.
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · 41 pts · 159d
People have been called antisemitic for less
horn_e4_beaver@discuss.tchncs.de · 10 pts · 159d
The president of Germany? Anti-semitic?
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 159d
It's hard to imagine
theolodis@feddit.org · 1 pts · 159d
81 years ago it wasn't that hard to imagine
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 158d
You don't even need to go back 81 years. The post-war Germans were also horrifyingly antisemitic for decades. It wasn't until the late stages of the Cold War that the German Christian Democrats felt the need to clean up their own rotten reputation and rebrand as zealously pro-Zionist. Curiously enough, this was just about the same time anti-Muslim bigotry was coming into vogue, and anti-semitism accusations could be leveraged to denounce Middle Eastern government leaders sitting on large oil reserves.
theolodis@feddit.org · 3 pts · 158d
Just a side note, the German Zionism is deeply antisemitic, as it forbids to draw a line between the state of Israel and Jews as a whole, implicitly suggesting that all Jews were accountable for the crimes of the state.
merdaverse@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 158d
We've come full circle!
Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world · 26 pts · 159d
If international law was ever enforced I’m sure they’d be very concerned.
zd9@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 159d
Please, Germany, arrest the perpetrators then.
IAmYouButYouDontKnowYet@reddthat.com · 5 pts · 159d
Don't arrest them... Make them suffer slowly.
Goferking0@ttrpg.network · 14 pts · 159d
Unfortunately just a figurehead and their actual leader is all about staying on usa good side
https://thehill.com/policy/international/5798457-germany-frank-walter-steinmeier-us-iran-conflict-breach-international-law/
merdaverse@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 158d
I suspect this is the reason why presidents in Europe (Italy, Germany, Ireland etc.) sometimes (rarely) call out this shit as morally reprehensible or illegal. Because they're just figureheads for the government and don't actually do anything about it. Meanwhile the PMs (which have actual executive power) actively collaborate with US/Israel and continue imperialism as normal.
Presidents are like the popes of liberal democracies: lots of fancy words to keep the masses placated, zero possibility of change.
jefferyjefferson@lemmy.org · 14 pts · 159d
Israel is above any law.
That's why they're the only country that's allowed to have nukes without disclosing it.
raspberriesareyummy@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 159d
Broken clock, twice a day... He's a useless piece of shit.
Hubi@feddit.org · 1 pts · 159d
Jaysyn@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 158d
... but we'll still allow VW to make guns for war criminals.
LaunchesKayaks@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 158d
Yes, we know. Now will someone please do something about it.
Mrkawfee@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 158d
Still letting them use bases on German territory. That makes them complicit.
KindnessIsPunk@lemmy.ca · 8 pts · 158d
I mean it's good for them to say it but I have my doubts appealing to the letter of the law will work on this bunch, hopefully they're saying it for the others in the room.
IratePirate@feddit.org · 5 pts · 158d
FTFY
KindnessIsPunk@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 158d
Well said.
Maragato@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 158d
This time, the Spanish president’s “no to war” message is backed by more EU countries.
moopet@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 158d
tbh I'm not sure why any "war" is legal in the first place. Seems like a failing.
Jankatarch@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 158d
I hate that I assumed they are blaming Iran at first.
Damage@feddit.it · 2 pts · 159d
International law has always been a bad taste joke
Scotty_Trees@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 158d
Ok? We're just stating the obvious that I already knew a month ago when this shit first started. Thanks I guess for having eyes and ears that work?
MyVeryRealName@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 158d
You aren't the President of Germany
Gathorall@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 158d
The fact that statements on international law are made by heads of state demonstrates that it is actually politics, not law.
finallymadeanaccount@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 159d
And that's why they pay him the big bucks!
rwrwefwef@sh.itjust.works · -1 pts · 159d
Such bravery to put that out there in 3 weeks time. Unfortunately you chancellor says that international law does not apply to Iran.
Hubi@feddit.org · 5 pts · 159d
I'd like to see that quote.
rwrwefwef@sh.itjust.works · 0 pts · 158d
It's paraphrasing, but that's pretty much the reasoning.
itisileclerk@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 158d
Of course they did, they are Iran, THE violator of every law. Where are we with Epstein files and Pedo-in-chief?
Bitflip@lemmy.ml · -2 pts · 159d
How dare they do an illegal war!
cattywampas@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 159d
"illegal war" is a pretty nonsensical phrase if you think about it
rwrwefwef@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 159d
Maybe so, but the League of Nations did declare war to be illegal.