International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, July 2, 2010

The German parliament on Thursday was poised to consider and vote on resolutions criticizing Israel for its interception of the Gaza aid flotilla in late May and calling for Hamas to be brought into the negotiating process.

The precedent-setting action against the Jewish state in the Bundestag appeared to enjoy the support of all the major parties, and also demanded that Israel agree to an international inquiry and to end its blockade of Gaza.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany issued an angry condemnation of the German parliamentary resolutions on Wednesday. "This behavior is unparalleled in the history of the friendship between Germany and Israel and worsens the conflict in the Middle East, instead of facilitating peace prospects," wrote the heads of the council. "[It is] based on incomplete information and a mixture of half-truths and public prejudices." In one provision, the resolution criticized Israel for "violating the principle of proportionality" by employing violence against the radical activists aboard the Mavi Marmara. IDF video showed, however, that a group of 40 Muslim militants initiated the violence by attacking Israeli soldiers with clubs, metal pipes, knives and stun grenades.

The Israeli Embassy declined to comment on the resolution. An Israeli diplomat, however, said privately that the political climate has dramatically shifted against Israel in Germany. Following the Nazi genocide of European Jews in World War II, Germany's main political parties have staunchly supported Israel and shunned Hamas for refusing to recognize the Jewish state.

Copyright © 2010 International Christian Embassy Jerusalem