German-Israeli Society urges military support for Israel in Hamas fight
The head of the German-Israeli Society, Volker Beck, has called on the German government to provide military support to Israel in its fight against Hamas.
“Instead of just hoisting Israeli flags or putting blue and white foil on aeroplanes, one should ask if and what kind of help is concretely needed that is wanted by Israel”, Beck told the German newspaper Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger in comments published on Tuesday.
He referred to the U.S., which had recently announced the transfer of an aircraft carrier to Israel.
Beck also warned of the danger of an escalation of the conflict through a massive intervention of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
“A military confrontation with Hezbollah will be of a completely different dimension for Israel.
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“It could claim human lives in an unimaginable scale and must be averted.’’
Beck said he was relying on the power of diplomacy in that it could open channels to forces willing to talk and keep the dialogue flowing.
However, he said, the international community must make it clear that it was not prepared to accept Iran’s conflict policy.
“And Germany must make it clear that we are on the side of Israel and its friends without any ifs or buts.
“And it’s not only on paper”, he said.
Armed militants from the Islamist militant group Hamas, which ruled the Gaza Strip, have been attacking Israel since Saturday.
Hamas is classified as a terrorist organisation by the EU, the U.S. and Israel.
Since Saturday, some 900 people have been killed in Israel by Hamas fighters and more than 2,600 others injured, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.
Massive Israeli counter-attacks have killed at least 687 people and injured more than 3,800 in the Gaza Strip, according to the Health Ministry there.
dpa/NAN