"This is the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us," said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. At the margins of the GT summit in Canada, the presenter of German tv ZDF utilized the phrase "dirty robot" that Merz picked up. "I'm grateful for the word dirty work. This is the dirty work Israel does for all of us. We are besides affected by this regime. This government of Mullahs brought death and demolition to the world," said the Chadetic Chancellor.
He besides expressed his top respect that the Israeli army and state leadership "had the courage to do so."
Opposition: "Cinical and ignorant"
For these words Merz found himself in the fire of criticism. She is besides spared by politicians co-operating with the shackles of social democracy (SPD). "This choice of words sparked irritation in the parliamentary club," said ZDFheute.de SPD abroad Policy expert Adis Ahmetović.
Strong opposition was expressed by the opposition Greens and organization Left and the Left-Populist Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht. Green politician Luise Amtsberg said, "Instead of cynical and ignorant comments from the Chancellor, I anticipate the German government to do everything in this tense situation to lead to deescalation."
Merz himself felt that the reactions to his message justified her and pointed out that most of his words were approved.
"Der Spiegel": Merz talks like Trump
Comments on this subject were besides made by German media. "Der Spiegel" magazine writer Severin Weiland writes that this is simply a dangerous conviction that "sounds like breaking up with the abroad policy line of all erstwhile German governments and leaves many questions unanswered".
"That's a good sentence. It could not be more distant from the illusory hopes expressed 10 years ago in Vienna by then abroad Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Then after a dense marathon negotiating 5 powers with veto law in the United Nations and Germany managed to sign a atomic agreement with Iran. 'I am certain that the resulting openness will profoundly change Iran's economy and society, and can besides open a fresh chapter in Iran's relations with the West', said Steinmeier, the current president of Germany."
"This conviction by Merz curious due to the fact that he would have been expected more from the rhetorical arsenal of U.S. president Donald Trump," writes Weiland, and states that "the consequences of this conviction cannot yet be assessed".
"Despite the random choice of words that hides that civilians in Iran have already been killed during specified a “dirty work”, it besides touches on the strategical focus of German abroad policy. Has Merz already said goodbye to diplomatic solutions that all German governments preferred for Iran? Or possibly this remark, as it frequently happens in his case, just slipped distant from him?" says the writer "Speel".
It can affect Netanjah
The paper "Die Zeit" posted 2 comments on the subject – 1 behind and the another against.
"These are strong but justified words," says Georg Ismar. And he points out that Friedrich Merz is known to talk clearly and emphatically. With respect to migrants, he has already talked in the past about "small feed" and about illegal migration as "all in". "With his fierce speeches, he caused himself problems. It is an interesting experimentation that as Chancellor he remains faithful to himself" - writes the author of the commentary.
"A very bold statement, yet striking realpolitik. Of course, this message must be taken unreservedly and critically analysed. Under global law, this action is highly problematic, as Israel cites the right to self-defense, a preventive attack against the government (not its population), which wants to destruct Israel and annihilate judaic life. But Merz thus evokes an important, controversial debate, something that seldom succeeded Olaf Scholz with his very balanced words about the mediate East, which the SPD Chancellor did not want to get in the first place. specified a clear text can besides be very politically helpful."
This simple text offers a large chance – says Georg Ismar. Merza's words were now praised by all possible Israeli channels. In this way, he manipulated himself and German abroad policy into a position that he had not had for a long time: the anticipation of exerting a real influence on Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the Chancellor speaks jointly but not uncritically."
"Indecent Chancellor"
With this opinion, another author, Sara Maria Behbehani, argues in "Die Zeit". "These words are not worthy of the Chancellor of Germany," he writes. "Dead job: what a term! The German Chancellor sits on tv and announces that he has the top respect for the courage of the Israeli army and the ruling (...). There can be no question of the attitude of the statesman in which the work and dignity of the office of the Chancellor should always resound".
"And what precisely is the dirty work here? full demolition of Iran's atomic program? Merz himself said just 1 conviction earlier that the Israelis were incapable to do so without American bunkers breaking bombs. Change of regime? due to the fact that that's what he went to after his attention about the dirty work, saying, 'We are besides affected by this regime. This Mullah government brought death and demolition to the world." However, it is not at all certain that the government will actually fall during this war – nor is it certain that what will happen later will be truly better".
"And even though he meant only that Israel was preventing Iran's leadership from gaining atomic weapons and that Iranian leaders could not do so far, (...) this inactive includes the suffering and death of civilians," writes the author of the comment.
He asks, "So what about these people? People who have been suffering for decades. any of them do not know how they can afford bread with a constantly falling currency. Men who may have taken to the streets themselves against the government during protests. Women who might have left their scarves at home. What about these people if they die now? Are they part of this dirty job? Don't people deserve protection if they live in the incorrect country and have the incorrect passport?"
"Calling things by name"
The words of Chancellor Merza besides occupy commentators of regional and local newspapers. The Brandenburg paper "Märkische Oderzeitung" writes that specified words would most likely not pass through the mouth of most diplomats, due to the fact that diplomatic language is besides restrained for that.
"However, this does not change the fact that Merz is right about this issue. Yes, Israel is likely to violate global law with its attacks. But most countries, at least those in the West and in the arabian neighbourhood of Iran, actually rather like it. It would be incorrect to be silent about this or to be wrapped in cotton. Politics remains clear only erstwhile it is called by name – and so it is in this case," we read.
