Terror in Israel
Gauck calls for tough action against Hamas sympathizers
Former Federal President Joachim Gauck
© Stefan Sauer / DPA
Clear words from the former Federal President: Joachim Gauck urges star-Interview on more toughness against Hamas sympathizers. He calls on the West to return to the Cold War mentality.
Former Federal President Joachim Gauck is calling on the authorities in Germany to take tough action against sympathizers of the recent attacks on Israel. “We must not allow this brutal terror to be applauded or even supported in our country,” said Gauck in an interview with star.
After the wave of attacks by the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas, Gauck warned of instability in the entire Middle East. “We are experiencing an outbreak of violence, terror and hatred, the extent of which has once again deeply shocked not only Israel, but the entire West – and, given the previous superiority of the Israeli military and its secret services, has completely surprised us,” said Gauck. “Scope and complexity The number of attacks suggests that Hamas terrorists received external support. “So we have to assume that these terrible attacks on Israel will have consequences for stability in the entire Middle East, which they should also have from Iran’s perspective.”
Tensions and wars threaten the previous world order almost everywhere today, said Gauck. The 83-year-old sees this as a clear increase in the “collaboration and cooperation of those who waged a partly open, partly covert fight” against the West. “We must recognize that hostility is being forced upon us by the offensive and aggressive rejection of the West, which cannot simply be negotiated away in the foreseeable future – no matter how much we would like it,” said Gauck. He called for “to critically question previous strategies for the Middle East and in dealing with regimes that support such terror.”
“We are not yet sufficiently ready today”
In view of the Russian war in Ukraine and recent waves of violence in the Middle East, he believes Germany and the West should return to Cold War approaches. “We are not yet sufficiently prepared today,” said Gauck, referring to the current dangers. “I miss a spirit of defense readiness that the West had during the Cold War. We need the determination of Helmut Schmidt, who, unlike the majority in his party – and probably also in society – knew: The enemy only takes us seriously if we are appropriately equipped to resist him.
Gauck particularly warned of further dangers from Vladimir Putin. “We must not see Putin as a mixture of Turgenev and Gorbachev, but as what he is: a hardliner of imperial anti-Western thinking, a denier of binding law. This forces us to adopt an attitude that others call a new Cold War. That may sound disturbing at first, but we need this resolute willingness to defend our democracy, the area of our freedom that we have fought hard to achieve.”
In this context, Gauck criticized the Germans’ sometimes reserved view. “There is a strange wishful thinking among part of our population: If you don’t annoy the dictator too much, then he will react appropriately,” said Gauck. “This approach may work for decent people. This will backfire on the Hitlers, Napoleons and Putins.”
He also called for further arms deliveries to Kiev. “We must absolutely prevent Russia from dictating peace,” he said. “Of course, Ukraine is a country with limited resources. And if the Americans scale back their aid and support here in Europe crumbles, then Ukraine will have to rethink negotiations. But we can’t decide what to do over her head. I thought that was presumptuous and lacking in solidarity.”