Reaction to E1 Project: Antisemitism Commissioner Criticizes Israel's Settlement Policy
The German government's antisemitism commissioner, Klein, has also joined the strong criticism of Israel's settlement policy. At the same time, he cautions that criticism of Israel must never tip over into antisemitism.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. Approximately three million Palestinians and more than 500,000 Israelis live in the territory, whose settlements are illegal under international law. Most recently, a tender for the E1 settlement project drew new international criticism.
The outgoing German government antisemitism commissioner, Felix Klein, has now joined this criticism. He described Israel's settlement policy as a violation of international law. It leads "away from the two-state solution, which ultimately must come," Klein told the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger.
Klein called on the Israeli government to "proceed with diplomacy and not always with force alone." He also criticized the "often lax handling of settler violence against Palestinian families in the West Bank." The Israeli justice system must "clearly prosecute" such acts, he said.
Violence Against Palestinians in the West Bank
A new incident occurred on Friday, when an Israeli shot and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian, according to local authorities. The gunman had been guarding a group of Jewish settlers who had entered the territory of a Palestinian village. According to the Israeli military, villagers threw stones at the settlers and injured some of them, whereupon the man opened fire.
Similar incidents have been occurring more frequently of late. Several Palestinians have been killed in such incidents since the beginning of the year. Israeli security forces are often present but do not intervene. Criminal prosecution of such acts is rare.
Klein warned against criticism of Israel that tips over into antisemitism. "Criticism of Israeli policy becomes antisemitic when Israel's right to exist is called into question, or when Israel is demonized — for example through comparisons with the National Socialists." Criticism of Israel must be comparable to criticism of other states. "Objections to the Trump administration generally do not tip over into anti-Americanism."
Klein is leaving his position as antisemitism commissioner at the end of August after eight years in the role, in order to become ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
International Protest Against E1
The president of the German-Israeli Society, Volker Beck, also issued a renewed warning about rising antisemitism. Israelis should not be held collectively responsible for the policies of the Netanyahu government, Beck said.
Under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel has significantly accelerated settlement construction in the West Bank. This is being watched with concern internationally. Most countries regard the settlements as illegal under international law, a position Israel rejects by invoking a biblical claim to the land.
France, Britain, Germany and Italy called on Israel on Thursday to end the E1 settlement project in the West Bank. In a joint statement, the four countries "strongly urged" the Israeli government "to immediately reverse these plans and to halt the expansion of settlements in the West Bank." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the E1 project "unacceptable."
Several former heads of state and prominent peace activists have also criticised the settlement policy. The publication of the construction tender this week by the Netanyahu government had "tested the resolve of the world," according to a statement issued Friday evening by the group "The Elders." Israel had crossed a "red line." "Now all possible measures must be taken to stop the illegal construction of E1 and to protect the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians for security and peace." The signatories include several Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
The Israeli government has rejected criticism of the settlement project.
