HE Ms. Angela Merkel

Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany

Tuesday, 26 January 2010 11:00

It is with great surprise that we read the reports which announced the news that the Government of Germany supported the State of Israel by presenting it with "gifts" is the form of sophisticated submarines and two gunboats fitted with missiles that would add to its arsenal of five submarines, previously provided and which were paid by German taxpayers..

And while I am not objecting to the German Government's decision, as this pertains to its own internal affairs, what I would like to call your attention to some points and to make some remarks in order to clarify the matter for the German government, its people and to the international public opinion. 

I do not think that the German people, who have suffered from dictatorship, oppression and terrorism, whether in the Nazi era or during the communist rule that Ms. Angela Merkel knows well, agree that taxpayers’ money goes to the procurement of assault and non-defensive weapons, and submarines that would carry-according to the reports- long-range missiles that could be fitted with nuclear warheads. 

I do not think that what taxpayers seek is to improve the offensive capability of the largest state in the world in terms of violation of human rights.
It is ironic that the German Parliament who once held an ad hoc session to investigate the training of some Libyan policemen by some German police officers; and the world was turned upside down to protest against the fact that German police instructors trained policemen of a State which violates human rights, although Libya’s record in the field of human rights is the best in the Middle East after the many reforms accomplished, however, we did not see the Parliament nor even the German press protest against these lethal gifts donated by the German Government to Israel, the biggest violator of human rights in the world. 

Only thirteen months ago, Israel waged war on Gaza, where it killed more than 2500 Palestinian citizens, including about 257 children and 56 women, and wounded 1080 kids and 452 women. And prior to that, it waged a war on Lebanon in 2006 and killed 1100 civilians including 400 children. During that war, Israel targeted and bombed hospitals and a number of schools, estimated by international organizations at some 50 schools that were leveled to the ground and about 400 schools that were seriously damage; and all this in a flagrant violation of international law. Throughout its history, Israel has waged three wars: against Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. It is the State in which the prime minister himself signs orders to assassinate others (the non-citizens); it is also the country that has and still is violating the sovereignty of other sovereign countries, by bombing their territories and assassinating other countries’ citizens. It is the one who sponsored the massacres of Sabra and Shatila, Deir al-Balah and Dir-Yassin and others. 

All this made the world recognize that Israel is a state that violates human rights.
Seen from the moral, humanitarian and political perspective, the funds utilized to finance this deal and which reports estimated at more than one billion Euros spent to build and consolidate the Israeli’s offensive capabilities, should rather have been spent to help the 1.5 million people in Gaza which was transformed into "the largest prison in the world," where dozens die due to the blockade, medical negligence, disease, hunger and poverty. 

Peace and coexistence in the Middle East cannot be achieved through the supply of missile-carrying submarines or phantom destroyers, but rather through the rule of justice, fairness and giving everyone his right.
To conclude, I would like to say: Today you are turning to Israel to atone for the mistakes of the past… and I assure you that you will one day turn to us to atone for today’s mistakes.

Sincerely yours,
Seif al-Islam Gaddafi

Last Updated on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 14:04