Germany in the jolt: the extreme right leaps and Trump threatens the covenants

Germany enters an era of uncertainty after elections without a distinct conductor, with the extreme right-wing party AFD jumped to 20.8% of the vote, and anxiety about the effect of the Trump administration on the transatlantic alliance imposes a heavy shadow on the future of Europe-according to the words of the words of the words David Witsum A historian and publicist who specializes in Israeli-German relations, a former European Broadcasting Authority and the Sokolov Award for Electronic Communication for 2009, in an exclusive interview with Maariv.

The elections, which took place yesterday (Sunday), revealed a deep fracture between East and West Germany, raised the AFD party by Victim (and others) “neo-Nazi”-to headlines, and set critical questions for Israel: what will be about European stability, relations With Germany and the future of the covenants we all depend on?

Election on a thin rope: Germany is looking for direction

“The last elections in Germany were without winners,” David Wittom, author of the book “The beginning of wonderful friendship? Recruitment between Israel and Germany 1948 – 1960” (Schocken, 2018). “The big loser is the former coalition,” emphasized, indicating the fact that together with all the voices that the former coalition-the Social Democrats (SPD) of the outgoing cannon Olaf SchultzThe Greens and Liberals (FDP)-“You see that it crashed to only 32%, compared to an absolute majority that was only a few years ago.”

Those who are expected to lead the next government is Friedrich MarchThe CDU (CDU) party, which will have to connect with SPD in a large coalition in Bundestag. The result, according to Witsum, will be “a few years of shuffling in the place,” as he believes was also in the previous government.

The conservative CDU won, but lost seats in relation to the previous elections, while the AFD (an alternative to Germany) doubled its power from 10.4% to 20.8%. However, no party is ready to cooperate with the AFD, making voters from its “wasted” voters as it says. The end result: a stable majority of 328 vs. 312 seats for March and SPD.

East Against West: Shabbat that threatens Germany

The latest elections revealed the deep break between East Germany and the west, a phenomenon Schuitsum describes as “a real return to the Berlin Wall” which separated the two. He said the reason for the EFD’s control in the East at a significantly higher percentage of limited achievements in the West is due to “fear of unrestrained immigration into Germany, especially from the Middle Eastern and Muslim countries, and anxious about Germany’s economic and social.”

Victim notes that “the third of Germany residents are no longer a” traditional “German descent,” emphasizing that fear of open boundaries and unlimited immigration – “when there is no return to those who want to return – worsen the situation.”

He adds that the Berlin Wall, who previously kept that they would not escape from East Germany, ironically “also gave East Germany that they would not enter it, there is no coming out.” In any case, East Germany is more sensitive to strangers’ entry into its region, experiencing fear of a loss of security that has arisen in recent years.

The anxiety, according to Witsum, does not only touch the immigration. “So far, the fear has been from Putin and Russia,” he explains, “and now, with the rise of Trump, an anxiety was added to the Atlantic Alliance.” In East Germany, which for years has lived in the shadow of the Soviet Union – an influence that has not disappeared in one generation – increases the sense of “civilians” type B “in the face of the assistance that immigrants and refugees receive from the state.

This is, as Wittum comments, “although only one percent of immigrants live in East Germany, so they do not experience the immigrants and the implications of immigration closely. In fact, they do not know the immigrants,” he notes in criticism.

Witsum emphasizes that “Germany’s and its citizens’ fear of immigration and leaves it is a firm and just fear,” in light of the fact that Germany is “an open country, with nine neighboring states and thousands of border crossings in its borders.” Alongside this, in the security aspect, in Germany there is an anxiety that “after Ukraine, the Torah will come to war against Russia,” which makes the elections and the days after which “no joy.”

Who’s scared of the AFD?

The AFD, which is currently headed Alice WeidelIt is seen as a “danger to German democracy, as a fascist and neo-Nazi party.” To strengthen his perception, and Yitzum elaborated a number of evidence and illustrations. First, legally, “The Constitutional Court in Burningia declared Bornn Huku, a senior in the AFD party, as a surprise.

Second, on the part of the party’s terminology, they are evident that they are using the Nazi party jargon. For example, in light of his professional past as a history teacher, he was convicted of using Nazi terms such as “everything for Germany” – a law -prohibited password for use, and served as Hitler’s storm (SA) – and read with others in his party to return immigrants (“Remigration”) , Including those with German citizenship.

Beyond that, in the past, Huka referred to the Holocaust memorial in Berlin as “shame to Germany,” and in other words, he demanded to “change all the culture of the Holocaust.” Similarly, Alexander Galand, one of the founders of AFD, said in 2018 that “the Nazi party is a staining stain in Germany’s magnificent history,” that is, a one-time event that is not required to hold a deep, serious and prolonged soul.

Third, the party is suspected of anti-constitutional activity, “that strives to dismantle the EU, retire from NATO and reach an arrangement with Putin, probably by preference to be on the side of the power owner,” in this case- Russia. Who revealed connections from the AFD party to Moscow, including corruption and espionage accusations.

The article states, among other things, that “AFD members are present at classified meetings of Parliament, and no matter if they turn off the phones,” which reinforces Witsum’s words that “the security concerns around the AFD are established.”

According to Victim, these models illustrate “AFD’s action pattern, protest behavior aimed at chaos and deconstruction.” As expressed yesterday (Sunday) March leader from the Conservative Party in relation to the right-wing party rise: “This party exists only because there were unresolved problems. They are happy if these problems are aggravated and aggravated. We must solve the problems .. and then this party, the AFD, disappears “.

Finally, even the European right-wing leadership like Marin La Penn of France and George Maloni of Italy are shaking off the AFD and not cooperating with her in the European Union. “They are too extreme even for the modern kind of fascist,” Wittum concluded.

Schultz comes out, the left is renewed

Schultz, expected to be replaced by Lance Klingberg47, symbolizes “a very necessary generational transition,” according to Victim, indicating that those who are expected to be the next Chancellor, March, is “over 70, and he is a player in the political field from the age of 30.”

According to him, because of his old age and his institutionalized place in politics, the latter’s winner of the election does not signify a significant change, and that “the significant changes in German politics occur in the margins,” as in the case of the extreme left party, Di Linka.

“The party was added to 4.9% in the 2021 election, and returned like Phoenix with 8.8% in the latest elections. This is a young party, which has received most votes in Berlin, whose voters are mostly young and young in Berlin and other places,” he shared, and mentioned that even so – She will stay in the opposition this time. “For Israel, this change is interesting, since the German left tends to visit us consistently, regardless of the right -wing government and Netanyahu.”

Trump and shadow beyond the ocean

In relation to the consequences of the new global arrangement and subsequent Donald TrumpVictim indicates a number of possible scenarios, with the common denominator for everyone being Trump’s resurgence adding tension in Germany.

“He demands that Germany increase the defense budget it gives NATO from 2%to 5%,” Wittome warns that “even if Germany increases its participation to 3%, it is enough to hurt the” simple “people who vote for AFD Because it will steal budgets that have so far been for education and other services to the citizen. ”

Beyond the economic aspect, in the security aspect, and Yutom believes that Trump’s statements in relation to NATO are not helpful, but only produce unnecessary fear. There – Suddenly, this is gone. ”

The implications of this change, Witsum adds, “is another browsing of global instability, and for uncertainty and fear about which way Trump intends to go in the inter-block story-to European countries or Putin and Russia.”

In Germany there is no admiration for Trump as we have in Israel, because here he is talking about our government (Israel) as his friends, and in Germany he mainly criticizes their democracy, which is the only thing between the AFD and Trump. Besides, Musk is an incomprehensible type in the German context, it influences Germany and opens an operator there, and at the same time closes them.

Germany armed: A new European alliance embroidered?

The big and surprising change is in the possibility of a new brother -in -law and weapon, in light of the geopolitical pressure that pushes Germany to arm. “Social Democrats are going to the right” in the security context, Wittum shared, pointing to the Minister of Defense, Boris PolandAlongside the other new leadership in the party – after Schultz’s push to corner – as key supports during this to strengthen the army.

“Schultz’s reservations in the past from the sending of cruise missiles to Ukraine, which he criticized his party and government, will not return,” he contracts.

In order to strengthen military in Germany and its membership in Europe, and Yutom believes that it is necessary to take a step that has not been spoken so far, despite being committed to reality: “If Europe wants to strengthen itself militaryly, it cannot do so through the EU or through NATO.” Albas DavigumAn attempt to such a move through the EU will fail in light of “parties that will get stuck in wheels about this, for example, Hungary and such countries, which have contradictory interests to such a course.”

Instead, “if Europe wants to get organized independently for the interests of all European countries,” Watum, “she must organize separately to 27 EU countries.” In his opinion, “just a union between Germany, the Baltic states, Poland and England (and such countries), in the organization outside the EU and beyond NATO (now in the US),” will ensure the security of European countries, including Germany.

I suggested to Wigum because it was possible and the meetings of European leaders -at the French President’s Office, Emanuel Macron– In recent days since Ukraine has been pushing from the discussion table to the war break to Russia, he is heading in that direction, and Yutom replied that this is definitely possible.

Continue the love story of Israel and Germany

The attitude toward Israel is expected to remain stable under the new government, “what it was, and it is good,” and Yutom reassured. The AFD is “a party that we cannot negotiate with,” while the German left continues to visit us, “not only Bibi, but also previous governments.”

The CDU and SPD coalition “balance the attitude towards Israel, in a way that is good for us,” he estimated, adding: “The rise of AFD is worrying, but as long as there is a clear agreement between the parties not to join them, we are fine.”

Andom also distinguishes between Germany’s attitude in its current format to Trump, and that of Israel: “In Germany, there is no admiration for Trump as we have in Israel, since in relation to the Israeli government, Trump declares as friends and partners, towards Germany- he mainly criticizes their democracy.”

In relation to the connection between Elon Musk And Germany, after the capital ticher expressed his support for the AFD party and headed, and will simply say that this is complex, and incomprehensible “it affects and involves what is done in Germany and its economy, it opens operators there, and at the same time closes them.”