Well I guess some West-Germans agree with you on this. Nevertheless, even West-Germany was much more powerful than France or the UK or the Netherlands. but who cares. Get over your hate. Life is colorful.

Sadly this article is very single-dimensional. Günter Grass' so called poem has mostly provoked harsh criticism both from politicians and public figures as well as from the vast majority of commenters on discussion boards such as this one. The truth is that Günter Grass is hardly perceived at all. He wrote his only notable novel in 1959. And he himself is probably the only one who really cares about his opinion about politics. The only ones agreeing with him are from the extremes of the political spectrum or of the Islamic variety. By no means do they represent the general public of Germany. But what kind of strange eclectic mix of sources does this article quote: a Portuguese writer; the student newspaper of some unknown College; a historian who has been ostracized since the,1970s... – this doesn't reflect the German state of mind. Nor is there any applause for Ahmadinejad. Kleber opened his interview stating that it was supposed to be a documentation of Ahmadinejad's agenda as to disclose his mindset to the world – statements (as Kleber points out!) that would violate German criminal law. Are you expecting investigative journalism in the lion's den a.k.a. the Iranian presidential palace?

I dont think calling him an antisemite and israel-hater is right. From my opinion he is definitely not! That doesn't mean that I completely agree with what he says in his "poem". He is minimizing the iranian threat to Israel for example which is a big failure. Israel's fear is understandable and it should have the right to protect itself. Grass is right though by saying that also the israeli nuclear bomb (that is obviously existing) should be put under international control, since Israel has its own fanatics (as you all know very well). And some may say that a few of those fanatics are already close to the button. I agree with Grass that this topic will have to be discussed in the international arena.

very cool article-thanks

of commentators on German discussion boards side with Grass, which is a shame. Anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiment runs deep in German society.

silly mouth...

I only can confirm this. Anti-Semitism has got society capable in Germany.

They blame the jews for their short-commings. Dont have a clue how to make something of themsleves. Grass was part of the "Total war" machine back then and now points fingers at others. This is an old nazi who is trying to justify his hatred for jews.

its security under international control,like Iran,Syria,egypt,antisemitic nations (disguised as only anti Israel) Ireland norway,spain,the dispute between Israel and the palestinians is not over a small piece of land, (2% of the west bank) but muslim dogma,that believes that muslims should rule the world,no negotiations,no compromise,this gunter,the ss man is siding with his brother in arms,general of the ss,Amin von Husseini, who urged the Austrian vagabond to kill more and more Jews,while the poor arab in the street is willing to die in a jihad,the fat cats who are in control,have no wish to part from the 72 maidens,at their service here and now, in a confrontation with a nuclear Israel,this is not the case with the mullas in Iran,that would like to incinerate the world,in order to usher in the 12th imam,to establish islam as the world religion.

be loaded onto trucks headed for Concentration Camps, before they are convinced that when German's Said "Juden Raus", that the Krauts meant what they said?

world, the poet has come out, right before Pessah, when Jews celebrate their liberty from slavery, and, with a minor subtle twist, doesn't accuse the Jews this time of killing Christian children in order to bake with their blood the Pessah special matzah bread. He, instead, accuses the Jewish people's nation-state of about to kill Iranian children this time. Grass of course could have inserted into his opinion-poetic column a call upon the rulers of Iran to cease calling for the mass murder of Jewish children in Israel, but he didn't do so. Nor did he call upon the Iranian rulers to cease denying the Jewish Holocaust that Germany inflicted upon the Jews, since he could bring a first-hand testimony, having been a volunteer Waffern SS member, that such acts are horribly and should not be repeated, neither by German or by Iran. But the "humanist" Grass has chosen to be traditional; to follow his forefathers and mothers and with a modern twist, accuse the Jews, once again, of being blood thirsty. This is the face of a Nobel Laureate, which reminds one: Mr. Yasser Arafat, with a lot of Jewish blood on his hands, also received the honor...

then the sentence: "and he now joins the ranks of Nobelists for whom Israel is a whipping boy." and the reference to Jose Saramago would make sense. Unless of course I somehow managed to miss the fact that all Nobelists are German and that Jose Saramago is German. In other words same inaccurate ridiculous garbage yet again.

Sven, Gerd, obviously you follow other news outlets than I do. If you took a little peek beyond your noses you might see that your left-wing/islamophile peer groups aren't as representative of German society as you might hope. I wonder though, what drives you to leave such comments on this discussion board of all places...

To your knowledge, has anyone actually have seen iIsrael Nukes? While you're doing that little bit of research, please tell us just how many times that Iran has threatened Israel with total destruction and how many times Israel has done likewise to Iran Look at yor own newpaper "Der Spiegel", there are stories in it that are replete with Ahmadinedhads threats against Israel If ou wish, just ask, the links are yours

The swine is ex SS. So what do you expect. The rise in anti israel feelings is the result of the flood of muslims in to Europe. Which brings out the old nazi hate from under the rocks.

What do y'all think about opening up Israel's nuclear program? You are the Sayers of 'Never Again", and I must admit it's sort of weird that you, in your true decency, would shun inspection and adherence to the NPT. You all know what we have,(Around 5000 horrifying nuclear super weapons, and gangs of "tactical" stuff) Why not show your true might, and let the fools that thought they could get 'one in' on you, see how wrong they were? Just askin'. I expect a terrible lickin' from Sarah. Shalom Israel, Rob

Freedom of speech is freedom of speech and nothing else. Many write and speak bad against Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohammed and even Mother Teresa and the media and the press never so were angry as they are now against Grass. Is Israel considered house of God and all Angels. Grass says the poem is against Netanyahu and not the Jews and he is right Netanyahu is not favorable and is trying put Israel in a big hole.

Anti-Semitism is coded in Germans - that's what I 'm starting to believe. In many countries antisemitism is rising during poverty and economical crisis. But Germany is a safe and strong and happy country, and many of them still hate us Jews for no reasons.

This sounds so gross that we need to have all of the juicy details!

iam not a germany but if iam i will be from the fourth kind so what will be your response or it will be the bomb for the fourth and the thousoundth oh as if you are only one as if it is the god pleas be more fine and soft with the jasamin

or are just COMMENTING on what you hadn't read

Its time to end, lamentations to end The fear of our power to end The dream of peace unfulfilled to end The trust in humanity the haters to end The waiting for acceptance misguided to end Our wintry recess in peacefull idiocy to end the hibernation of our arms our missiles our submarines our bomb. Its time yes its time to move forward with our hammer our pillars of fire our hatred Its time to make the skies red with the blood of our enemies to cleanse the earth once and again of Amalek and its minions Its time to end

These ass..remarks are fodder for the anti israeli press that will quote it no matter what it means, right or wrong

after all its just my freedom of speech right to do so. At least that is what I gather from your twisted lack of logic! Get real, think before you type!

What a tragedy that we only hear ignorance and bigotry from our heroic "Intellectuals"! None of them have half the soul, (nor brilliance) of Orianna Fallacci. God rest her soul. We will never see these "Men", go and interview, nor even dare to criticize!!! Assad, or Ahmedinajad, nor any of the petty local fascists running around Europe. Not to mention Saudi Arabia or Sudan. Let them stand up! and declare themselves Jewish, or Feminist, or Homosexual at any of the Anti-Israel rallies, in the Arab world. Please God. Tragically, these men, from whom we expect sublime intelligence and understanding, afford only bigotry and ignorance. If we only witnessed bravery! None of these "Men", have half the soul of a woman like Orianna Fallaci. They will not go

The best poem I have read in my entire life..SERIOUSLY.

We are not members of the NPT and as such we have no obligation for any inspections or adherence to a treaty we didn't sign and have gotten nothing from. Why don't you press Pakistan and India to open their nuclear facilities? They too are not members and both have declared that they have nuclear weapons that they have tested. Why only us? If you can't answer why only Israel then you have your answer.

He never said saramago was German. Read the article. This whole Palestinian issue is based on people failing to look at the facts. The so-called Palestinians are an invented legacy of the anti-Semites.