A Boring Dystopia

Germany is losing the plot. Ai summary in English:

The article, written by Ralf Balke, is a sharp critique of a commentary by German journalist Gabor Steingart. Steingart had praised German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza, framing it as a sign that Germany was finally freeing itself from the "long shadow of its history"—referring to the Holocaust and Nazi past.

Balke argues that Steingart’s language is highly problematic and dangerous. He says that equating Israel with aggressor states like Russia and using terms like "perpetrator elites" echoes Nazi-era rhetoric. The phrase "Gaza macht frei" in the title alludes grimly to the infamous Nazi slogan "Arbeit macht frei," suggesting that some in Germany now see criticizing Israel as a form of ideological liberation.

The author warns that this kind of discourse risks trivializing Germany’s historical responsibility for the Holocaust and can fuel antisemitic attitudes. He calls for more responsible and historically conscious commentary when discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly in Germany.