No, we are NOT clean. We are human beings with all positive and negative aspects. Regarding our "defense" policy I personally have a different opinion. If I have to defend myself by oppression and other such means, then I have fallen in the same trap in which countless other regimes have fallen. Remember, all those fascist and wrongdoing countries started with good and moral intentions..... As has been said before here, if you start to look at every country with a magnifying glass to check if their shirt is spotless clean and has no German WWII dirt on it, then you can only purchase fridges from the innuits ( eskimo is a degenerated, insulting word). Problem is, they don't make them (no wonder) and if they would make cars, they too would not be very suitable for our desert climate (A/C not optional LOL)..... I take it that Petach Tikva and Ramat Hasharon have basically the same climate being only 6 miles apart......

Yes, there is also a symbolic aspect: Today, Germany is a state which has a friendly relationship to Israel. Politically, its government is considered one of Israel's best friends in Europe, and economically Germany is one of Israel's main trade partners. So why not buying German cars? The Israeli gov. also decided to buy the most expensive conventional weapon systems of the IDF - from Germany (the submarine fleet - Israel got its three submarines about 8 years ago from Germany). Now Israel is investing about 1 billion $ into two new german subsmarines. So, if Israel buys German submarines (because they're the best) - why not also cars (if they are good)? "about the message we give to the public" - Well, the public already buys German cars since decades. I've even seen more Volkswagen Beetles in Israel in one year than I saw in Germany in the last 5 years. So, if Shas tries to "give the message to the public" that German cars are evil - who will listen to them?

You obviously confuse Krups with Krupp. The giant steel - and weapon-producing company which built much of the German heavy military equipment in both of the two world wars, was the KRUPP company. In the Nazi era, it was the biggest German steel and weapons producing comp., and the Krupp family also supported Hitler. However, The company which you mention, and which produces household appliances, is the KRUPS company. This is a different company, without connections to KRUPP. IT had no importance or influence in the Third Reich, and first became widely known by the production of electric household aids AFTER WW2.

Jason, you wrote: "Audi steering shafts are not suited to Israel's roads ..." I don't understand. What is the difference between European and Israeli roads (except the Israeli roads being more dangerous...)? Why is steering on Israeli roads different from steering in Germany? I don't know much about car mechanics, but still ... It doesn't convince me that you would need other steering shafts in Israel than in Germany. I don't understand why Audi cars should be incompatible to Israel.

Wos, Shas has 'respect' for the Holocaust victims. Where were these ministers when their ayatollah labelel the six million Shoah victims the reincarnation of sinners?

But personally, it's too close for me to handle. Reading their official website (I lived for 27 years just 40 km's from their place of origin - go figure....) it seems they were a family of simple smiths who made it. So, I jumped the gun. Mea culpa

If minister Cohen wants to swap his future Audi with my non-German car, he should let me know and I will immediately oblige. The problem seems to be that there are quite a few makes of cars which are not "clean" regarding WWII, the Holocaust and anti-Semitism. Ford is one of them: its very founder was a blatant anti-Semite. So, what do we do now ? Boycott Ford after 100 years ? No, I don't think so, it's way too late for that. I sincerely believe that our government, too, can put up with Audi as much as they may be using other German-made machinery, appliances, crafts, etc. If German "Dolphins" are good for us, I hope Audi will also do.

Well, an example how blind prejudice can make and what you can misleadingly interprete into such a case. mea culpa is latin and very catholic, so, who is the gentile? yes, throw the gun away ..

Germany is obviously problematic, but let's look at other major auto manufacturing countries: Britain - reassigned territory assigned for Jewish homeland under Mandate to Jordan and Syria, restricted immigration into Palestine when it was most needed Italy - adopted anti-Jewish legislation and collaborated in destruction of Italian Jewry France - Vichy government adopted anti-Jewish legislation and collaborated in destruction of French Jewry, withheld military supplies after Six Day War Sweden - hostile to Israel's legitimate interests, increasingly submits to its Islamic minority Japan - numerous manufacturers subscribed at one time to Arab boycott of Israel So who's left? India and China, who currently make nothing Israel might want, and the US. One shouldn't hold anything against Ford, given that Henry Ford II rejected his father's anti-Semitism, and defied the Arab boycott in the 1960s.

Yishai described Gays as being "worse than beasts." This type of talk is similar to how the Nazis spoke of other people. So he should want to buy a nice German car.

For an individual to buy German products is OK but for the Israeli Government it's symbolic and it is an insult to the 6 million victims.

We can't buy British cars because they are boycotting us, no French because of Vichy, no Italian because of Mussolini, no Spanish because of Inquisition. Let's buy Korean Kia cars, or Chinese or Indian or US cars.

just to show us how strong its moral fiber is on this matter?too bad they didnt take that kind of stand to try and prevent the kids and old folks from getting a merciless beating from our own police---the germans didnt do that but what i saw took me back to 1938 when they were beating on us.

maybe its time to start cutting them back-----no more cars supplied by the state-start walking and get some exercise---set the example for the rest of us on how to improve our health and work on getting a neat trim body ---like you mks should all have.

The U.S. Or better yet let the bums use public transportation. Who the hell are they to get autos with our tax money?

AND IT GET'S 50 COMMENTS ? G-D HELP US !!!!!!!!!

I agree with # 17. As far as I know the Israeli Navy is more than happy to drive German dolphin class submarines, so why not drive the cars?! And by the way, I get the impression that there are very few States at the moment that show as much support to Israel as Germany does.

the israel government has to be wrestled to give holocaust survivors enough of a stipend not to have to eat out of trash cans.

In Latin America popular saying is that need has the face of a dog, but choice must have yours, I rest my case

As long as one Holocaust survivor is breathing, it is a disgrace, affront and madness to use German goods period. Yeah, we all know how the grandsons of Hitler had nothing to do with it, blah blah....and how good those German Dolphin subs are, blah blah... doesn't matter. German cars literally cost Jewish lives. Mercedes Staircase to Heaven anyone? If you are ignorant about this, read Forged in Fury by Michael Elkins. We are waaaaay to quick to forgive and forget.. for what, so you can cop a better ride?! Truly the offspring of the Golden Calf!!!

This is political grandstanding at its worst. Under Merkel's leadership, we have a great friend in Europe ,where we desperately need one. No one should forget the past, but at the same time it is not today's Germany that is seeking our destruction

They really should buy cheaper cars (not necessarily German) or keep the old ones if that is economically wise and use the money for the people in need so they do not need to eat out of trash cans (made where??)

Good to see upright Bavarians or others just living there reading the Yedioth. You cannot be accused of ignorance, only of misinformation (using Mark Twain's words). True, the mea culpa is Latin, but the catholic origin is 100% Jewish!!! On the Yom Kipur day, just around the corner, we have our “viduy” – or confession: “ashamnu, bagadnu” and “al chet" and I think it is from here that the catholic church took its "Confiteor" during Mass. I think I am entitled to some prejudice in these matters (my family butchered, my grandparents murdered, my brother gassed and burned, etc.), but blind? Read my previous TB's here and you'll see how wrong you are. I even drove 9 years a car manufactured in your city..... FYI, I hold a Dipl. Ing. from a German Fachhochschule and command the German language without a trace of foreign accent and speak on a daily basis with many Germans, Swiss and Austrians..... So if I say something about Germany and its culture, etc. I know about what I am talking!! BTW, when you jumped the gun, momentarily, it's useless, so no sense in trowing it away but it might come handy some day....

Shas politicians continue being not only sub-cultured but also idiotically minded. 4/5 of Israels BUS fleet is made by German constructors ( as a part of the post war contribution" while 3/5 of the Taxi cab fleet is also German ( Mercedes, VW, ). If Shas MK want to be in agreement with themselves, they should wait to flag a Japan manufactured Cab or a Renault ! What an idiotic statement !!! But what should we expect from SHas ????and their man with the funny hat and the shades ?

They arent Holocaust survivors, they are Mizrahim not Ashkenazim. You are a fool.