Germany rejects Amnesty’s ‘apartheid’ label for Israel

Germany’s Foreign Ministry has rejected Amnesty International’s claim that Israel is “apartheid” and criticised the “one-sided” focus of the report.

The comments came on Wednesday when Germany’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christopher Burger spoke at a press conference. “We reject expressions like apartheid or a one-sided focusing of criticism on Israel. That is not helpful to solving the conflict in the Middle East,” he said.

Burger, however, did add that Germany continues to oppose Israel’s so-called settlement in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) and that Berlin remained in favour of a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

Germany’s Ambassador echoed the remarks by her Foreign Ministry, however, she also included an important line that Amnesty International UK may indeed be fueling antisemitism with their report.

Germany rejects such terms as "apartheid" and a one-sided focus on criticism of Israel. Accusations of human rights’ abuses need to be taken seriously, but human rights advocates also have a responsibility not to involuntarily encourage a worrying rise in anti-Semitism in Europe.

— Susanne.Wasum-Rainer (@GerAmbTLV) February 2, 2022

“Germany rejects such terms as “apartheid” and a one-sided focus on criticism of Israel,” said Ambassador Susanne Wasum-Rainer.

“Accusations of human rights’ abuses need to be taken seriously, but human rights advocates also have a responsibility not to involuntarily encourage a worrying rise in anti-Semitism in Europe,” she added.

Israel has also accused Amnesty International of antisemitism.

“As a proud democracy, we looked for nuance but found only falsehood and distortion. This antisemitic report recycles lies instead of seeking truth and consolidates bad-faith attacks from those who seek to demonise the State of Israel.”

Yair Lapid, Israel’s foreign minister, said Amnesty was “just another radical organisation which echoes propaganda, without seriously checking the facts”.