AfD-MP to Merkel’s government: “When will Germany recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital?”

Alternative for Germany (AfD) MP Petr Bystron has called on Angela Merkel’s government to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. 

In December of 2017, US President Donald Trump was the first head of state in the world to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Since then, nine nations – Russia, Brazil, Australia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Guatemala, Honduras, and Taiwan – have all followed suit.

But for some reason, Germany’s leadership has refused to sign on to the idea. They’ve even pressured the government of Romania not to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s true capital, according to Bystron.

In a recent party press release, Bystron writes: “On April 16, 2018, I asked the German government to name the capital of Israel in one word only. It wasn’t a complicated question, one that a schoolchild could answer. The government was not able to, instead supplying a 202-word answer that didn’t mention the word Jerusalem or West Jerusalem once.”

Bystron continues on, saying: “You routinely vote against Israel, you do nothing as German party foundations of the Greens and Left support Palestinian terrorists. I have a simple question: Will you continue your anti-Israel policy, or will you finally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel?”

In response, Angela Merkel’s Chief of Staff Helge Braun answers: “I must say, just a few days after the anti-Semitic attack in Germany, to call the Federal government anti-Israel, when there can be no doubt close ties to Israel are fundamental for German policy, really leaves me shocked and speechless.”

Brystron again asks if Braun would not take the opportunity to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. 

“There’s no point in standing outside synagogues and pretending to be pro-Israel if your policies are anti-Israel, abroad and at home,” the AfD politician asserted.

Braun responds, saying: “The German government’s policy is anything but anti-Israel. I think you are just trying to use this sensitive subject politically, which I find highly inappropriate.

AfD MP Rainer Kraft then asked Braun what part of the German government is in charge of making such a decision. He received no answer.

The news comes as Jews across Germany say they’re feeling increasingly under siege from rising anti-Semitism across the society. Earlier this month, two people were killed in an anti-Semitic attack on a synagogue in Halle, Germany.