interview
According to historian Zimmermann, Hamas’ attack on Israel is also a result of the Israeli government’s wrong priorities. Too little has been done to find a peace solution with Palestine – including in Germany, he said tagesschau24.
Israel’s military and government appeared to have been caught off guard by Hamas’ attack over the weekend. The state, the government and the military have failed, said Israeli historian Moshe Zimmermann tagesschau24. “The State of Israel was founded to protect Jews, to guarantee Jews a safe homeland.” This was not successful given the attack that left hundreds dead.
Zimmermann: The government has done too little for peace
He sees the reason for this, among other things, in the fact that the government has done too little to find a peaceful solution with the Palestinian side. The government has not held peace negotiations for ten years and has allowed a terrorist organization like Hamas to become the active party in this conflict. “It showed on Saturday how inhumane it can be. The Israeli civilian population was at its mercy,” said Zimmermann.
The biggest threat would come from Hamas in the Gaza Strip. “If you don’t deal with that, but rather with the fate of the settlers or the expansion of the settlements in the West Bank or with a judicial reform that undermines the judiciary, then you have set the wrong priorities,” said Zimmermann.
The judicial reform is dividing the country. For months, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets and protested against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans. They fear a far-reaching curtailment of the judiciary, including the rights of the Supreme Court.
Germany must take reasons of state seriously
Zimmermann also sees Germany and the international community as having a greater responsibility. The security of Israel is German reasons of state. But Germany has not paid enough attention to Israel’s security, says Zimmermann.
An intensive effort to achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians would be necessary, according to the historian. “The German government, as well as Europe, as well as others, have neglected this. And so it happens that those who act are the terrorists. And they attacked Israel.”
In order to preserve Israel’s security, the priority from now on should be to ensure peace between Israel and Palestinians – including for Germany, said Zimmermann. “That’s task number one.”