AJC criticizes German Parliament over Gaza resoltion

Resolution condemning Gaza blockade deeply disappoints American Jewish Committee.

By BENJAMIN WEINTHAL
Gaza city flag 311 AP (photo credit: Associated Press)
Gaza city flag 311 AP
(photo credit: Associated Press)
BERLIN – The American Jewish Committee’s Berlin office issued a letter on Tuesday to all of the German Bundestag parties, “expressing deep disappointment at the recent passage of a cross-party resolution condemning Israel’s blockade of Gaza.”
The letter also urged German parliamentarians to pass a resolution demanding the release of Gilad Schalit, “the Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas terrorists four years ago.”
Deidre Berger, director of the AJC’s Berlin office said, “The signal this unfortunate resolution sends is that Israel’s closest European ally has joined the choir of those countries calling Israel a pariah state.”
She added that “The German parliament does not routinely denounce partner countries for political policies, whether they agree with them or not. Therefore, AJC was greatly troubled by the decision of German parliamentarians across party lines to single out Israel and undermine Israel’s sovereign right to take the necessary measures to protect its citizens.”
Berger’s letter called for the German Parliament to take action to secure the release of Gilad Schalit.
“A resolution by the German parliament demanding the release of Gilad Schalit, four years after he was taken hostage, would be a strong acknowledgement of German- Israeli ties.
“As Schalit’s captivity is a key factor in maintaining the Gaza blockade, a German parliamentary resolution to demand his release would be a major contribution to helping overcome the situation that has led to the blockade.”