German Lawyers Sue Scholz, Allege Complicity in Gaza

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Facts

  • A group of German lawyers announced Friday they are suing members of the country's Federal Security Council, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, for 'aiding and abetting' Israel's campaign against Gaza which the lawyers characterize as a genocide.1
  • The lawyers, representing Gaza families, have also named Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, and Finance Minister Christian Lindner in their criminal complaint.2
  • The lawyers allege the German government authorized the export of $350M worth of weapons to Israel to 'perpetrate the current genocide.'3
  • The suit comes days after Scholz urged Tel Aviv to abide by international law amid Israel's reported preparations for an assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.4
  • Previously, Scholz in November 2023 called for a two-state solution to the long-standing Middle East conflict and criticized Israel's building of new illegal settlements on Palestinian territory.5
  • The lawyers, however, say that instead of stopping Israel — at least since the International Court of Justice's preliminary findings in January — German officials have incited genocide.1

Sources: 1Al Jazeera, 2The New Arab, 3Yeni �žafak, 4Middle East Monitor and 5AA.com.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by US News & World Report. Germany must maintain its support for Israel with the utmost clarity. Historically, even the country's left-wing parties have been unwavering in backing the Jewish state. Due to German society's history, the country's post-war raison d'être is to protect and support the Jewish people. This support has been material, moral, and even legal, per Berlin's declared stance at the International Court of Justice.
  • Narrative B, as provided by the Guardian. Germany's blank check to Israel — offered as atonement for history — completely misses the point of that sentiment. The political class has, so far, been unable to acknowledge Israel's brutal policies in Gaza, which is inadvertently stifling Germany's evolution into a country that has truly reckoned with its terrible past. It's admirable that German society seeks to redeem itself, but supporting the wanton killing of Palestinians does the opposite.

Predictions