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The World from Berlin

'Something Is Rotten in the State of Israel'

This week Israelis are celebrating the 60th anniversary of their state's foundation. But, as German media commentators point out, the country still faces huge challenges.

As Israel celebrated its 60th anniversary this week, there was much the country could point to with pride. Despite being surrounded for much of its history by hostile neighbors, Israelis have built up a successful economy, turning deserts into fertile land and developing a successful high-tech industry. Israelis are also proud of their tradition of liberal parliamentary democracy in the largely autocratic Middle East.

However, even this week's Independence Day celebrations, when thousands of people gathered in the center of Jerusalem to mark the 60th anniversary of the state's foundation, were tempered by fears that Palestinian militants might use the occasion to stage attacks. And the 60th anniversary has also provided a focus for criticism over the country's human rights record: In the run-up to the anniversary, around 100 prominent British Jews signed an open letter published in the Guardian newspaper criticizing Israel's policies toward the Palestinians.

Many of the country's biggest challenges remain unsolved: How to revive the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process? How to achieve lasting peace with its neighbors? Is Israel a Jewish state or a state for Jews? How can the country deal with its disgruntled and rapidly growing Arab minority, many of whom feel discriminated against?

German media commentators writing in Friday's newspapers point out Israel's many successes and the difficult problems it still faces. They also take the opportunity to reflect on Germany's relations with Israel, which now counts Germany among its closest allies.

The center-right Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes:

"While nobody worries about the existence of France or Italy, Israel, even after 60 years, is not embedded into the region. Israel is at war with Islamists and their terror. It still does not have an internationally-recognised capital, no safe and internationally-accepted borders."

"But the country's citizens do not seem to be too concerned by that: Election turnouts are falling; the commitment to the country's defense is waning and many politicians are ensnared in corruption scandals."

"Something is rotten in the state of Israel and because of that the anniversary has not given rise to any real joy. A majority of Israelis would have liked to have seen the money spent on something 'sensible.' The talks about the past have been long, but the visions for the next 60 years short."

"Israel's 60-year-long success story stands in contrast to its 40-year occupation. If Israel wants to hold on to its identity, democracy and demographic majority, the split has to come soon."

"But not least the emotional burden of Jewish history before Israel was founded -- from centuries of persecution of Jews up until the Shoah -- gives Israelis cause to hesitate. A strong longing for security has stifled the courage for peace."

"Only since the last Lebanon war has the belief taken hold that Israel cannot continue to control and fight its conflicts on a small scale, because the concessions in return for peace appear to be too high. What is also missing are the statesmen -- from Rabin to Sharon -- who could push the nation in the right direction."

The conservative Die Welt writes that most Germans took little interest in the creation of Israel 60 years ago, except for German politicians:

"For them it was an epic event, and soon after the foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany on May 23, 1949, there was contact between leading figures in both countries, at first mainly in the area of science. However, the Israeli prime minister David Ben-Gurion, as well as the German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, wanted more."

"But in the Holy Land a majority of people then were not in favor of direct talks with, let alone financial support from, the 'country of the perpetrators.' However, in a memorable debate, Ben-Gurion convinced the majority of parliamentarians that it was time to have some sort of relations with the new, democratic Germany."

"In the Luxembourg Agreements signed on Sept. 10, 1952, Germany promised to give Israel 3 billion German marks, on top of compensation payments to individuals. The money was meant to be used to help the integration of former European Jews. The ice was broken, but it still took a long time until the two countries established diplomatic relations."

"Today, Germany is Israel's second-most important ally after the US. Luckily, the main reason for that is not the ever-present history of the two countries, but the common belief in the fundamental values of our existence."

-- Mark Waffel, 1 p.m. CET