Turn the page on the Holocaust
As German youths question concept of 'historical responsibility' thrust onto them, Israel will only encounter more difficulties if it continues to lean on identity as victim
"A new chapter has been opened in the relationship between Germany and Israel," so Chancellor Angela Merkel summed up her historic visit to Israel this month.
While her declaration may seem trivial two generations after the Holocaust, when only a handful of victims and perpetrators remain among the living, but behind the cordial pleasantries and display of friendship from one of the most important countries in the world lies a historical turnabout of much significance that stands to impact not only the relations between Germany and Israel but also the very root of Israeli foreign policy.
While talkbacks on German news websites are by no means a representational statistical measuring tool, they do represent an evolving mindset worth paying heed to.
The two main arguments surfacing in these debates are "How much is this 'wonderful friendship' with Israel costing Germany?" and "Why are we such stalwart friends of an occupying nation?"
Beyond reflection the anti-Semitism that still pervades in Germany, they are indicative of the negative image Israel maintains throughout the world.
Newfound German standing not an injustice
Sixty years after the Holocaust and the devastation wreaked by World War II, it is intriguing to step back and examine the current standing of two of that era's major players: Germany, a country perceived as criminal and leprous and Israel, a people of sympathized victims.
We may see it as a historical injustice that Germany of all nations now enjoys a lofty international position while on the other side, like a mirror image of Germany's ascent to reputable purity, the world's regard for Israel has plummeted into murky depths.
But in reality there is no injustice here, rather we can learn an important lesson. Yes, Germany is exalted today also because of its economic fortitude but primarily due to its responsible, balanced and level-headed policies.
Over the course of six decades Germany has managed to regain the faith of a world it send spiraling into two of its most devastating conflicts.
It has allowed for a situation wherein Prime Minister Ehud Olmert lavishes Chancellor Merkel with praise not only because he cherishes her support of Israel, but also out of an acknowledgment of the genuine and candid soul-searching Germany still continues to pursue.
Unlike George Bush's isolationist United States, Germany has invested in building bridges in the international community. This as opposed to Israel through the ages, which has touted the memory of the Holocaust, its security concerns and its military dominance in the Middle East while providing a horrifying interpretation of international law in regards to the settlements, the war on terror and the sovereignty of neighbor states.
'Never Again' doesn't ring as relevant
In Germany and elsewhere in the West, the slogan of 'Never Again' is still accepted but that understanding is growing ever more hesitant. With the launching of a new chapter in our relations with Germany, any rights as victims are evaporating.
It is not difficult to see why a German youth would want to distance himself from the guilt and responsibility of the Holocaust when his father had nothing to do with the crimes perpetrated by his grandfather or even great-grandfather's generation.
We must internalize that Israel will encounter increasing difficulties in its endeavors to defend the country's foreign policy abroad if it continues to lean on the icon of the victimized Holocaust survivor.
In this new stage of our relationship with Germany there is room for much hope. Equal relations with one of the most influential and advanced democracies in the world will indicate that Israel is a progressive democratic society with an attractive economy, remarkable military strength and vibrant cultural and academic life.
Our ties to Germany must be built on a positive future, not the naturally fading memory of the Holocaust.
We learn from Germany that if we accept the burden of international law, its benefits will prove a fertile base for deep and productive relations with the free world. However if we choose not to follow that path, not only will we loose footing with numerous sectors in the world, including Germany.
Dr. Gil Yaron is an author and journalist specializing in Middle East affairs and German-Israeli relations
