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Oh ok, so that link fails to work.
I which case just goto the X account page of Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis and scroll down a little. [ Mod: No need, I’ve fixed the link. Thank you for providing a description of the linked content. ]
There you will find her mobile phone footage of her part of Tel Aviv. Looks very similar to early footage of Gaza City, which is somewhat ironic.
Mods- thanks for the new Nitter instance. Very helpful.
AG, June 4, 10:38 – Al Jazeera has reported a number of times about large explosions against desperate Palestinian crowds that have gathered near aid stations, but attributes them to tank shells. Other extermination methods include machine guns and drones.
Skwawkbox has reported “Israeli bombs dropped” on the crowd rather than tank shells, but hasn’t cited the source. Videos are embedded, but they show the aftermath not the strike.
People may have confused tank shells with aerial ordnance. I’d sort of expect tanks to be more likely as aircraft might be heard approaching, whereas tanks could be waiting within range but out of sight.
Two example reports; these appear to refer to the same massacre:
CLARK
Thanky you!
Yes what you say makes sense.
I only quoted what Lawrence Wilkerson had mused about in an interview the problem being that Wilkerson is sometimes exaggerating seeing his role not only as a historic witness and expert but a political activist too. Which is morally okay but in terms of “research” / “scholarship” is an issue. You don´t want to be caught claiming incorrect things. Even though the other side does nothing but just that.
Interview with Germany´s new SoS Wadephul by DER SPIEGEL.
German original:
https://archive.is/4rhabMachine-translation:
“Phase two of the turning point now begins”
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul discusses his division of labor with Chancellor Merz, the coordination with the US, and what Germany can achieve in the Middle East and vis-à-vis Russia.A SPIEGEL interview by Christoph Schult and Severin Weiland
June 20, 2025He is the first foreign minister with a CDU party membership card since 1966: Wadephul, 62, has headed the Foreign Office in Berlin since the beginning of May. The lawyer from Schleswig-Holstein, who holds a doctorate in law, has been working on foreign and security policy issues for many years. In the 1980s, he served in the Bundeswehr for four years and is a lieutenant colonel in the reserves. The father of three lives with his wife in Molfsee near Kiel.
SPIEGEL: Mr. Minister, when you were in the Middle East a few days ago, Israel attacked Iran; you found yourself on a crisis mission. Did you expect things to be so turbulent so soon after you took office?
Wadephul: No, I didn’t see it coming in this form. But when you’re confronted with such a dramatic situation, there’s no time for reflection.
SPIEGEL: What stood out: Before your recent talks in Cairo, Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke with the Egyptian president, and before your subsequent visit to Oman, Merz spoke with the Sultan. As foreign minister, are you in competition with a foreign chancellor?
Wadephul: That’s our understanding of a unified foreign policy. We operate on different levels and complement each other. That’s the most normal thing in the world. The Chancellor trusts me, and I trust him. That’s an important prerequisite for me to be able to do my job.
SPIEGEL: Unified policy – how does that work in practice?
Wadephul: The vast majority of our discussions involve the Chancellor asking me for my opinion.
SPIEGEL: Do you ever contradict him?
Wadephul: I’ve never had reason to strongly disagree with Friedrich Merz, neither when I was in opposition nor since taking office. But I also have no problem accepting that he is the head of government and has the authority to set policy guidelines.
SPIEGEL: You’re often on the road. Do you still have a life outside of politics?
Wadephul: That’s become more difficult, but my family life is very important to me. For example, I try to continue visiting the weekend market in my hometown or theater performances in Hamburg with my wife.
SPIEGEL: You’re a devout Protestant and wish your fellow human beings “God’s blessing.” In the Middle East, many politicians invoke God in their decisions. Do you see this as an abuse of religion?
Wadephul: Many people view their personal religious beliefs as a basic orientation in life. I think that’s good and right. But one shouldn’t derive politics in the narrow sense from a religious conviction. For me, being religious means being open to others. My church congregation in Berlin-Mitte runs the “House of One,” where Christians, Jews, and Muslims come together to pray together. Sometimes I wish that similarities between religions were emphasized more strongly in the Middle East as well.
SPIEGEL: Can Germany influence the dangerous situation in the Middle East?
Wadephul: I think so. I already know many foreign ministers in the Arab world from my time in the opposition. Everyone understands that Germany has a responsibility for Israel’s security, yet we are valued as a fair, reliable negotiating partner.
SPIEGEL: Unlike the US, the German government was not informed in advance by the Israelis about the major attack on Iran. You were surprised by the news during a stopover in Cairo. Were you annoyed by this approach?
Wadephul: The element of surprise is part of such military operations. My Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, then briefed me comprehensively at short notice.
SPIEGEL: What is the much-vaunted friendship with Israel worth if you are only informed about such important events after the fact?
Wadephul: What is crucial is that we maintain a close and ongoing exchange of information about the strategic situation. It was known that Iran was pursuing a nuclear enrichment program that could no longer be justified by peaceful, civilian use. It was also no secret that the regime in Tehran was pushing ahead with a long-range missile program that threatened Israel and Europe. Israel and Germany shared the same assessment of the threat posed by Iran.
SPIEGEL: After the start of the military operation against Iran, you expressed understanding for the Israeli government’s decision, but also called for de-escalation. What now applies: Is it permissible under international law for Israel to have attacked, or not?
Wadephul: I cannot make a definitive assessment under international law. That would require information we don’t have.
SPIEGEL: Are you having the Foreign Office investigate this?
Wadephul: For that, we would need all the facts that formed the basis for the Israelis’ decision. It is clear that Israel has the right to protect its existence and the lives of its citizens.SPIEGEL: Do you consider the Israeli military operations against Iran morally right?
Wadephul: I don’t think it is our primary task as Germans to make moral judgments about the State of Israel. Iran poses a threat to Israel. The Iranian regime’s declared state ideology is to destroy Israel. The Netanyahu government felt compelled to act. I see no reason to criticize this decision.
SPIEGEL: At the G7 summit in Canada, the Chancellor declared that Israel was doing our “dirty work” in Iran. Do you share this assessment?
Wadephul: As I said, Germany and Israel have assessed the danger Iran poses to the people in the region and far beyond in the same way. I completely agree with the Chancellor on this.
SPIEGEL: Protecting Israel has been part of Germany’s raison d’état since Angela Merkel’s chancellorship; in 2008, she justified this with Tehran’s nuclear buildup. Will the German government help Israel if the Iranian attacks continue and the number of victims rises?
Wadephul: I’m trying to prevent an escalation. I’m warning Tehran against terminating international agreements and escalating the conflict. But that can’t be ruled out. Israel will always be able to rely on Germany.
SPIEGEL: On Friday, you plan to meet with the foreign ministers of Great Britain and France in Geneva with your Iranian counterpart. What do you hope to achieve?
Wadephul: The situation is incredibly tense; it’s hard to predict how the next few days will develop. Simply hoping for the best isn’t enough. Hope isn’t a category of diplomacy. Talks are.
SPIEGEL: Chancellor Merz warned that a further escalation of the conflict could destabilize the entire region. For decades, warning of destabilization in the Middle East has been a standard feature of German diplomacy. Is the term still appropriate?
Wadephul: In the current situation, it’s almost an understatement. If the conflict between Israel and Iran spreads to other countries, there’s a risk of more than just destabilization.
SPIEGEL: Last October, after Israel’s strikes against Lebanon’s Hezbollah, your predecessor, Annalena Baerbock of the Green Party, warned of a destabilization of Lebanon and thus the entire region. Back then, you criticized it and defended Israel, but today you sound similar to Baerbock. Have you learned anything?
Wadephul: The situation today is not comparable to that of last year. Israel took action against Hezbollah because it was under daily attacks from Lebanon and a large part of northern Israel was uninhabitable. Therefore, at the time, I considered Israel’s military action to be correct. But we are now in a different, more complex dimension.
SPIEGEL: You recently sharply criticized Israel for its actions in the Gaza Strip. You said that the German government would not allow itself to be “put in a position where we are forced into forced solidarity.” This outraged many in the CDU/CSU. Why did you speak of forced solidarity?
Wadephul: I understand that my choice of words was criticized by some CDU/CSU colleagues; my colleague Sa’ar also asked me about it. For the German government, Israel’s security is a matter of state policy. At the same time, international humanitarian law applies. The situation in the Gaza Strip is dramatic; Germany must point this out and respond with demands.
SPIEGEL: Has the new, more critical tone that you and the Chancellor are adopting toward Israel facilitated your talks in the Gulf region?
Wadephul: I’m convinced of that. But that wasn’t the reason we were clear. We’re concerned about the issue. Germany will not remain silent about the suffering in Gaza.
SPIEGEL: In the Arab world, many accuse Germany of applying double standards. Berlin is particularly critical of Russia’s war in Ukraine, while remaining reserved when it comes to Israel.
Wadephul: I’m very pleased with how I’ve settled into the position and the support I’ve received from many of my colleagues. My numerous contacts in Europe, but also and especially those in the Middle East, show me that Germany is valued as a partner.
SPIEGEL: What distinguishes your foreign policy from that of your Green predecessor?
Wadephul: In my first speech, I made it clear that I want to focus on the essentials, with a sober, realistic perspective. Above all, I’m concerned with preserving security, freedom, and prosperity in Germany and Europe. That’s a different emphasis. But foreign policy isn’t suited to revolutionary acts. Continuity is important; otherwise, our reliability would be damaged. Nevertheless, after the end of the legislative period, it will be clear that I did some things differently than my predecessor.
SPIEGEL: You emphasize that you also want to talk to representatives of states that don’t share Western values. Did you find Baerbock’s style arrogant?
Wadephul: I don’t want to pass judgment on Annalena Baerbock’s conduct in office. I will work with her in her future role as President of the UN General Assembly. For me, the ability to negotiate is a prerequisite for successful foreign policy. We should first accept each interlocutor as they are. That doesn’t mean abandoning our values or interests.
SPIEGEL: Could you also imagine speaking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov?
Wadephul: A foreign minister is always well advised not to rule out talks with anyone. For the Russian foreign minister, the following applies: We Europeans must first decide that talks with the leadership in Moscow make sense. There is no shortage of offers of talks from Ukraine. What is lacking is Putin’s willingness to stop his attacks.
SPIEGEL: Russia’s war against Ukraine could be overshadowed by the conflict between Israel and Iran. Does that worry you?
Wadephul: Yes, it does. We are not forgetting Ukraine. And this also applies to other armed conflicts and humanitarian disasters such as those in Sudan and South Sudan, where there is mass death.SPIEGEL: Do you expect Russia to be ready for serious peace talks later this year?
Wadephul: The more consistent the West is with Moscow, the more likely it is that Vladimir Putin will agree to negotiations. This means that we must not let up on military support either: We must continue to help Kyiv. This is necessary for our freedom.
SPIEGEL: Do you expect Russia to launch a new major offensive against Ukraine this summer?
Wadephul: Every additional day of this war is terrible. The Europeans are determined, but our actions will be more effective if we coordinate closely with the United States. If that succeeds, Putin will be ready to negotiate very quickly.
SPIEGEL: A few weeks ago, you were the first minister in the new cabinet to advocate for Germany to spend five percent of its economic output on defense. There was a lot of criticism. Did that surprise you?
Wadephul: Yes and no. Perhaps not everyone was prepared for such far-reaching decisions. But in just a few days, NATO will meet for its annual summit in The Hague. There, Secretary General Mark Rutte’s proposal to increase investment in our defense to five percent will prevail. Germany must set an example; we must be prepared to lead. It is up to us to do what is necessary for our security and to keep NATO together.
SPIEGEL: Chancellor Merz has announced his intention to make the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army among the European allies. That sounds like a task for generations. Is the German government doing enough to explain its defense policy efforts to the public?
Wadephul: We need to talk much more about our security. Now we are entering phase two of a new era. We should tell citizens clearly that without a major investment program in our defense, Germany and Europe will not be secure in the future. This includes more personnel in the Bundeswehr, but also a significant strengthening of civil defense. This is a major mediation task for us in the government.
SPIEGEL: Mr. Minister, thank you for this interview.
