Israel und wir

Since the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent new Gaza war, there has been intense debate in Germany about its relationship with Israel. On the streets and in social networks, there has been an unexpectedly intense outbreak of anti-Semitism. Jewish people feel threatened in Germany once again. German politics has clearly aligned itself with Israel and reaffirmed Angela Merkel's statement that the security of Israel is a German national interest. But what does this mean in concrete terms? How far does solidarity with Israel go? Should it be unconditional? And can it be, given that the Israeli government includes far-right ministers? Their controversial reform of the Supreme Court has been interpreted by many Israelis as an attack on democracy, and they are pushing for illegal settlement construction. What constitutes legitimate criticism, and where does criticism of Israel cross the line into veiled anti-Semitism?

Werner Sonne was in Israel on October 7, 2023. Fifty years earlier, he had reported as a young journalist on the Yom Kippur War, and now history is repeating itself. Reporting from and about Israel has been a lifelong theme for the well-known ARD journalist. In this book, he describes the current societal debates and gives voice to their most important protagonists. At the same time, he narrates the history of German-Israeli relations with a particular focus on security policy, which is currently at the forefront—ranging from the difficult beginnings under Adenauer and Ben Gurion to the purchase of the Israeli missile defense system Arrow 3 and the delivery of additional German submarines as carrier weapons for Israel's nuclear deterrence. This book thus provides background information, clarifies arguments, and offers food for thought on one of the most pressing and controversial debates of our time.