Berlin, Jan 14, IRNA — Every second German views Israel as an “aggressive” country, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Hamburg-based stern news magazine.
Some 59 percent of Germans said Israel is ruthlessly pursuing its own national interests without even considering the interests of other countries.
Only 30 percent of those questioned said Israel was actually respecting human rights.
Asked about Israel’s right to exist, 13 percent opposed it.
Meanwhile, some 60 percent of Germans, especially the younger generation, said they felt no special responsibility at all towards Israel as a result of the Nazi genocide of Jews.
The latest opinion poll is in stark contrast to the official position of the current German government which has reiterated its unwavering support for Israel.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has faced mounting public criticism for blaming only Hamas for triggering the Gaza onslaught and for closing her eyes to Israeli atrocities.
Critics of Merkel’s hardline pro-Israel policy in the Gaza war argue that Berlin’s position on the Palestinian crisis is almost totally dentical to that of the illegal Jewish state.
Merkel has strongly defended Israel’s slaughtering in Gaza, labeling it “legitimate self-defense.”
Nearly 70 percent of Germans reject Merkel’s position on holding Hamas responsible for sparking the Israeli military onslaught in Gaza, according to a recent survey released by the private sat 1broadcasting network.