Feel-Good Friday: Moral Clarity on Display From the German Vice-Chancellor Edition

(Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)

It is hard to believe it has been about four weeks since Hamas massacred innocent Israelis and began the Israel-Hamas war. The feelings that October 7 produced are still so fresh in the minds of most people.

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One very disturbing part of the story is the number of anti-Semites who have come out of the woodwork and flaunt their bigotry and hate with impunity. They hate Jews simply because they are Jews. They support Hamas in its desire to eliminate Israel from the face of the world and to annihilate Jews. This is 2023, not 1933.

It isn’t just on college campuses in America. There are huge anti-Israel demonstrations and anti-Jew demonstrations across the world. The large number of Europeans, for example, clogging the streets of Paris, or London, or The Hague, Netherlands has been breathtaking. It makes what happened Thursday all the more remarkable.

A video went viral Thursday on social media that is of German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck’s strong, clear statement against the anti-Semitism on display in Europe. He said it will not be tolerated in Germany. The video has been seen eight million times by Thursday night. He criticized antisemitism from Islamists, the far right, and “parts of the political left.” It’s nine minutes long and well worth your time.

“Israel’s right to exist must not be relativised. Israel’s security is our obligation. Germany knows this.”

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The video is making an impact.

Mr Habeck’s lengthy and emotive video has had a big impact in Germany. He pointed out that almost 80 years after the Holocaust, Jewish communities were having to tell their members to steer clear of certain places.

Some political figures praised him for giving what sounded like a state of the nation address. Antisemitism commissioner Felix Klein said he had made a clear and prudent appeal to the responsibility of everyone in Germany to stand up for the safety of Jewish women and men.

Germany has outlawed the burning of other countries’ flags and the vice-chancellor reminded Germans that burning the Israeli flag or praising Hamas’s actions were crimes.

“Anyone who is German will have to answer for this in court,” Mr Habeck said in his message. “Anyone who isn’t German also risks losing their residence status. Anyone who doesn’t yet have a residence permit is giving grounds for deportation.”

If only the American president could speak with such moral clarity. Biden took too long to address American citizens (and the world) and when he did, his speech included plenty of moral fuzziness. Biden inserted sops to Gaza several times. Joe Biden is a weak leader and endangers our lives at home, as well as overseas. Look at Biden now – a far-left female Rabbi demanded he call for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war during a fundraiser. Now Biden is calling for a “pause” so that the hostages can safely leave Gaza.

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Hamas is not releasing hostages, though. The terrorists released two NGOs with dual citizenship but there is no indication that Hamas is interested in releasing American or Israeli hostages. Hamas wants to kill Americans, as well as Jews and other Israeli residents.

So in a time where politicians are hesitant about speaking with moral clarity, listening to the German vice-chancellor was a refreshing change of pace.

“After the Holocaust, the founding of Israel was the promise of protection to the Jews—and Germany is compelled to help ensure that this promise can be fulfilled,” Habeck said in a speech posted on X. “Of course, Israel must abide by international law and international standards. But the difference is this: would someone ever frame such expectations of Hamas?”

Calls for a cease-fire are unacceptable. There was a cease-fire in place when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. Hamas does not succumb to the demands of others. Hamas is pure evil. It must be completely destroyed. Joe Biden is already going wobbly and appeasing the Hamas caucus at MSNBC. It’s good to see other leaders with a backbone and moral clarity.

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David Strom 5:20 PM | May 01, 2024
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