In the « Zib-Talk » about Israel, Heinz Fischer is pushed to apologize-Diepresse.com
At Tarek Leitner, four experts discussed Israel’s approach in the Gaza strip. The conversation dominated a feud between ex-ÖVP MP Martin Engelberg and former Federal President Heinz Fischer (SPÖ).
Does Israel go too far with the terrorist organization Hamas in war? Or does the state only do what it just has to do? To discuss these questions, Tarek Leitner invited an ensemble to the « ZiB-Talk », which made him a referee. In two packs compared to the former Federal President Heinz Fischer (APÖ) and the Austrian Amnesty International Section head Shoura Hashemi on the one hand and the former ÖVP MP Martin Engelberg as well as the lawyer and ex-president of the Jewish Austrian university students: inside Benjamin Guttmann on the other.
« How do you come up with the fact that this is a genocide that Israel committed on the Palestinians? », Leitner addressed the first question to Hashemi in the diplomatic subjunctive. Amnesty International Israel has been thriving with the Palestinians for months. The Austrian section manager once again emphasized that the genocide was « legally determined ».
In Teufel’s kitchen
Leitner could have saved himself the equally diplomatic consequence of the desk towards the desk. « Genozidal is the ideology and the approach of Hamas, » said Engelberg to Hashemi. In the Israeli military, every assignment is checked « on collateral damage », for a « maximum protection of the civilian population ». Guttmann agreed and requested the report on the crimes of Hamas announced by Amnesty.
Why is it so difficult to express criticism of Israel without “getting into Teufel’s kitchen”, Leitner wanted to know a little awkward from a knowledge that was scolded in the media itself for his criticism of the Israeli government. « We just got why this is so, » replied the Federal President. « Two gentlemen » would « fall verbally through the Secretary General and bring a tone to the discussion that I will now try again. »
« It’s not to be taken seriously »
From then on, the conversation developed into a showdown between Fischer and Engelberg. The latter demanded « self-reflection » from the Federal President and an apology for Fischer’s statement that the procedure of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Gaza strip shot anti-Semitism. Fischer did not deviate from his opinion and felt misunderstood at the same time. When Engelberg Fischer then assumed an uncritical attitude to Syria and Iran and a friendly one to North Korea, the former Federal President only addressed his questions to Leitner. « I’m talking to you because it is not serious. »
Leitner could no longer get a constructive discussion. Sometimes it seemed as if he had to intervene physically. « How many people should still die until the structures of the Hamas are supposedly destroyed, » said Hashemi the arched Engelberg, as if there was Netanyahu himself. Guttmann’s « We should work together on peace » went under one of the few positive appeals. LEITNER thanked “for this lively conversation” under whipping. It was certainly not a constructive one.
