At today’s editorial meeting we discussed for a long time the extent to which MENA Research Center should report on the terrorist actions of Hamas and its Islamist allies in Israel on a daily basis.
We have decided not to provide daily reporting, also due to a lack of journalistic capacity on site. We first refer to the articles from the international, reputable press, which continually reports on the latest developments.
The Palestinian terrorists’ attacks on innocent people, their murder, the kidnapping of entire Israeli families, the rape of young women only leaves us stunned. The governments in Europe and the EU institutions expressed their condolences to the State of Israel on Saturday and any help that the country needs in such a situation.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz initially broadcasted on X: “Terrifying news is reaching us today from Israel.” Germany condemns these Hamas attacks and stands by Israel. On Sunday afternoon, the Chancellor spoke a second time, using the formulation that Israel’s security was German reasons of state and reaffirming Germany’s solidarity. Scholz called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and announced talks with US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and other politicians. German Head of State Frank-Walter Steinmeier telephoned Israeli President Izchak Herzog. “Israel must defend itself against brutal terror,” said Steinmeier. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that this day was a turning point, an unprecedented act of escalation by Hamas.
People in Europe were all the more shocked when they found out how some Arab groups were holding public celebrations in many cities in Germany, Austria, Benelux and Scandinavia. They even gave away sweets to passers-by to celebrate the “liberation of Palestine”. So directed terrorism by the military wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, better known as Hamas, is being celebrated in European cities. The camera team of a German newspaper in Berlin-Neukölln was threatened, surrounded and forced to delete video material. The Samidoun group, which is considered the front organization of the left-wing extremist Palestinian organization PFLP (“Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine”), was out and about on the Arab-influenced Sonnenallee in the Neukölln district – distributing sweets to cheer the Hamas attack on Israel. The group has been active in Germany for several years. In recent years it has repeatedly caused uproar with demonstrations glorifying Palestinian terror. In April of this year, participants in a demonstration organized by Samidoun shouted that they wanted to take care of “bloody bodies” and wanted to “liberate” the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem with “our blood”. “Gather around, long live the weapons” and “Rockets are raining freedom” were other slogans at the time.
It is such images that have even forced representatives of the German government to find clear and unambiguous words: the German minister and former leader of the Green Party Cem Özdemir, who calls himself a secular Muslim, said yesterday in one of the most famous talk shows of German TV that people who would celebrate murder, kidnapping and rape should be dealt with much more clearly and strictly. “Everyone who wants to become a German citizen must be aware that Israel’s right to exist is part of Germany’s reason of state. Anyone who does not share this should please look for another country!” The German government also announced yesterday that it would review all financial support for the Palestinians. This process is not yet complete.
The domestic political debate quickly came to a head over the German government’s financial aid for Palestinians. Promised payments amounting to millions must “now be stopped immediately,” demanded CDU foreign spokesman Roderich Kiesewetter. According to the German Development Ministry, the country is “one of the largest donors in the Palestinian territories”. Minister Schulze said: “But these attacks on Israel are a terrible turning point. We will therefore put our entire commitment to the Palestinian territories to the test.” During this review, we want to discuss with Israel “how we can best serve peace in the region and security for Israel with our development projects.” According to the Development Ministry, Germany has so far been involved in various areas for the people in the Palestinian territories. There is no direct financing of the Palestinian Authority. German development commitments total 250 million euros.
According to EU Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, the European Union is suspending all payments to the Palestinians. All projects are under review, he said. All new issues, including for the current year, would be postponed “until further notice”. It is a total of 691 million euros. There can no longer be “business as usual,” added Várhelyi. The level of terror and brutality against Israel and its residents is a “turning point.”
The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called an emergency meeting of the EU foreign ministers for this Tuesday. According to Borrell’s spokesman, it will be about the effects of the Hamas attack and the possible reactions of the EU. The meeting will take place via video conference as Borrell and several ministers from EU member states are in Muscat, Oman, on Tuesday.
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