Inflammatory Comments

Ulrich Pöner heads the international department of the German Bishops Conference.

DW-WORLD.DE: The Bishop of Eichstätt, Gregor Maria Hanke, one of 27 German bishops visiting the Holy Land, made a comparison between Nazi policies and Israel's approach to dealing with Palestinian areas. The Ausburg Bishop Walter Mixa spoke of a "ghettoization." How did these comments come about?

Ulrich Pöner: I think you have to be aware that some of the bishops were in Bethlehem and Ramallah for the first time and came into close contact with the suffering of the Palestinians. That led to understandably emotional statements of several sorts, from a number of bishops. In this context, some harsh comments were made.

As a matter of principle, in my opinion, one should be allowed to make strong, critical and emotional statements when in such a particular situation. This is something different from an entirely political evaluation, which the head of the German Bishops Conference made, and which all the bishops endorsed, at several places in Israel and Palestine. But there are limits. And those limits are reached when a particular word loses a certain quality for both the situation as well as for others' feelings and suffering. In this context, independent of the situation, it is, of course, impermissible to make any connection between Nazi policies directed at Jews and the current Israeli policy towards the Palestinians. Bishop Hanke has self-critically pointed out that this type of comparison is not permissible in any way.

How do you evaluate the reactions that occurred? The Central Council of Jews in Germany said the statements had anti-Semitic overtones.

Avi Primor, the former Israeli ambassador to Germany, made it clear in an interview that he knew the German bishops well enough to know that there was no anti-Semitism whatsoever on their part. I believe the statements that were made cannot be put into an anti-Semitic context. They were not intended in that manner and they should not be understood in that way. Overall, the tone of the reactions to the statements has been fierce. Still, both the Central Council of Jews in Germany and the Israeli ambassador have pointed out that they are certainly aware that criticism of the circumstances in the Palestinian areas -- and thereby criticism of the state of Israel's policies -- has to be permitted. This is the criticism that was expressed by the German bishops. The question is always one of form and degree.

But it has to be fundamentally accepted, including from those who have made certain statements criticizing the bishops, that the bishops cannot be silent when it comes to conditions in Palestine. They cannot do that, should not do that and will not do that. Just as they will continue to address, particularly to the Palestinians, the state of Israel's right to existence and the threat terrorism poses to the Israelis.

Karl Lehmann, the head of the German Bishops Conference, apologized in an open letter to the director of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. Has that closed the issue?

I think that the regret Cardinal Lehmann expressed about certain incidents on the Israeli-Palestinian border is suitable to set the record straight on this issue for everyone with an interest in it. It should also be mentioned that the regular contact and close relationships and level of trust that exist with international as well as German Jewish organizations, like the Central Council and the Conference of Rabbis and the Israeli ambassador, will be able to -- and will have to -- withstand this event.

Could the Nazi comparison have a long-term negative effect on the German-Israeli relationship?

No, I do not think so. It is not as if the German bishops only have contact with the Israeli authorities and ambassadors when these issues come up. There is regular contact, including on political issues, and this contact also existed during the trip to the Holy Land. The bishops, for example, had a very interesting conversation with Vice Premier Shimon Peres and other officials. All of this shows there is a level of understanding, dialogue and exchange. Critical points are talked about and dealt with, which is the way it has to be. But that one wrong word in a certain place could have the potential to undermine the very constructive relationships we have with the Israelis -- that's something I don't believe. They have developed too closely over the past few years for that to happen.