By Gunnar Schupelius
Those who want to destroy Israel must be fought much more strongly, including on the streets of Neukölln, says Gunnar Schupelius.
On Tuesday, politicians and citizens gathered on Sderot Square in Zehlendorf and laid flowers. “The event ended with a moving minute of silence in memory of the victims of the horrific attack on Israel,” reported the district office.
The city of Sderot is located in southern Israel, right on the border with the Gaza Strip. In this city, Palestinian Hamas terrorists carried out an unprecedented bloodbath last weekend.
Sderot has been a partner community of Zehlendorf since 1975. The square received its name in 2009. At this point, Sderot had already been under constant fire from Gaza for two years.
The Islamist Hamas seized power there in the summer of 2007 and launched war against Israel. Six months later, in February 2008, a delegation from Steglitz-Zehlendorf went to Sderot with Mayor Norbert Kopp (CDU). I was there.
12 residents had already been killed by Hamas rockets. A large playground was covered with a massive concrete roof. Bunker-like shelters in the streets. On every lantern there is a loudspeaker for the “Tseva Adom”, the “Red Alert”, which announces the rockets. Then there are still 15 seconds left. We were told what we had to do: “Lie on the floor, hands over your head, pray.”
In the most unlikely case, the rocket will hit you directly. Then you have no chance. In the more likely case, it hits somewhere nearby. The warhead, which the terrorists have filled with screws and pieces of cast iron, explodes on the ground.
Eight-year-old Osher Twito (8) was caught on the street. While doctors amputated the boy’s leg, Hamas officials celebrated the “hit” on the streets of Gaza City.
At that time the mood was already low. Everyday life is a race for life and death. We were not welcomed enthusiastically. Angry men shouted: “Help us or disappear.” The Berlin delegation wanted to show their “solidarity”. But what did the people of Sderot get out of it?
15 years have passed since then. Chancellor Merkel has declared Israel’s security to be Germany’s reason of state. Chancellor Scholz confirmed this on Thursday. “We stand by your side,” wrote the participants in the minute’s silence on a piece of paper on Sderot Square.
This is meant honestly. But if the many beautiful words from Germany are not finally followed by action, we should save ourselves the trouble. This means that Israel’s enemies must be fought much more forcefully than has been done so far, including on the streets of Neukölln.
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