Germany’s Support for Israel: Rewriting Holocaust Responsibility

Germany’s policy of unconditional support for Israel, framed as
Staatsräson, is often justified by Holocaust guilt. This narrative
presents alignment with Israel as atonement for the genocide of six
million Jews. However, this essay argues that Germany’s motives are
self-serving, aiming to rewrite its history by shifting Holocaust blame
onto Palestinians, particularly through distorted claims about Haj Amin
al-Husseini. By exploiting the dead’s silence and silencing living
dissent, Germany deflects guilt while bolstering its image.

Staatsräson and the Holocaust Guilt Narrative

Germany’s post-WWII atonement includes reparations and support for
Israel, framed as a moral duty. Chancellor Merkel called Israel’s
security part of Germany’s Staatsräson in 2008, a stance echoed by Olaf
Scholz. In 2024, Scholz said he would not arrest Israeli leaders
Netanyahu or Gallant, despite ICC warrants for Gaza war crimes, if they
visited Germany. Germany also cracks down on anti-genocide protests,
labeling them anti-Semitic. This suggests motives beyond guilt,
including rewriting history by implicating Palestinians.

The Holocaust narrative is used to justify this policy, but Germany’s
silence on distortions—like exaggerated claims about al-Husseini—implies
a strategy to shift blame. Dead figures cannot protest, making them
ideal scapegoats for a nation seeking to minimize its culpability.

Distorting History: Blaming Haj Amin al-Husseini

Haj Amin al-Husseini, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem (1921–1937), collaborated
with Nazis from 1941, producing propaganda and recruiting for the
Waffen-SS. Scholars like Jeffrey Herf (2016), David Motadel (2014), and
Ofer Aderet (2015) confirm he had no role in Holocaust decision-making.
The genocide began in 1941, before his November 1941 meeting with
Hitler, driven by Nazi ideology from Mein Kampf (1925) and executed by
Himmler, Heydrich, and Eichmann.

Yet, claims exaggerating al-Husseini’s role persist. In 2015, Netanyahu
falsely suggested al-Husseini inspired Hitler’s genocide, a claim
debunked by Yad Vashem. Germany’s failure to counter such distortions
enables a narrative linking Palestinians to Nazi crimes. As al-Husseini
died in 1974, he cannot refute these accusations, allowing Germany to
subtly deflect its guilt.

Selfish Motives Behind Germany’s Policy

Germany’s support for Israel serves multiple self-interested goals:

1.  Global Image: Aligning with Israel portrays Germany as reformed,
    overshadowing its role as Holocaust perpetrator.
2.  Guilt Deflection: Tolerating myths about al-Husseini shifts focus
    from Germany’s responsibility, involving 200,000–500,000
    perpetrators (USHMM).
3.  Domestic Control: Banning pro-Palestinian protests (2023–2024)
    suppresses debate, reinforcing Staatsräson as unquestionable.
4.  Geopolitics: Supporting Israel aligns with U.S. interests, securing
    economic and military ties.

These motives show Germany’s policy is less about atonement and more
about crafting a narrative that minimizes its historical guilt.

Silencing the Dead and the Living

Blaming al-Husseini exploits his death—he cannot protest falsehoods.
Meanwhile, Germany silences living voices by cracking down on
anti-genocide protests, labeling them anti-Semitic. This conflates
criticism of Israel with Holocaust denial, stifling debate about Gaza,
where over 40,000 have died since 2023 (UN). Palestinian communities in
Germany face surveillance and restrictions, further marginalizing them.
This dual silencing reinforces a narrative casting Palestinians as
culpable, justifying Germany’s policies.

True Responsibility: Confronting the Past

Germany’s Holocaust guilt requires honest reckoning, not scapegoating.
The genocide was a German crime, as established by Nuremberg Trials. To
atone, Germany should: - Debunk al-Husseini myths to prevent Palestinian
scapegoating. - Allow debate on Israel’s actions without equating it to
anti-Semitism. - Critically assess support for leaders accused of war
crimes.

Failing this, Germany’s Staatsräson appears as a tool to serve its
interests, not a moral duty.

Conclusion

Germany’s support for Israel, justified by Holocaust guilt, is a
self-serving strategy to rewrite history. By tolerating distortions
about al-Husseini and silencing dissent, Germany shifts blame to
Palestinians, exploiting the dead’s silence and marginalizing the
living. This deflects its sole responsibility for the Holocaust, serving
rehabilitation, domestic control, and geopolitical goals. True atonement
demands rejecting revisionism and amplifying marginalized voices, not
perpetuating a narrative that obscures Germany’s guilt at the expense of
historical justice.