BERLIN, July 14 (Reuters) - German criticism of Israel's treatment of Gaza has plunged political relations between the two states to an all-time low, the General Secretary of Germany's Central Council of Jews said on Wednesday.
Earlier this month, all parties in the German parliament passed a resolution demanding an international investigation of the Israeli storming of an aid flotilla to Gaza and that Israel immediately lift its blockade of the Palestinian enclave.
The rare step by Germany, which has been a staunch supporter of Israel since the Nazi genocide of European Jews in World War Two, had provoked "shock and outrage" in the Jewish Council, general secretary Stephan Kramer told Reuters.
"We’re very concerned about it," he said. "We think this marks a historic low in the German-Israeli political relations.
"Nobody would demand this of a European state," he added.
The Bundestag lower house said the blockade of Gaza was not in Israel’s interests and had only served to fuel tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.
The joint motion suggested a "fundamental change" in German policy towards Israel, said Kramer, who argued its content was one-sided and made no mention of Israeli demands like the release of captive soldier Gilad Shalit by Hamas.
By failing to address the unprecedented step, Chancellor Angela Merkel had caused dismay in the Jewish community by giving the impression that she supported it, he said.
"To my understanding — though maybe she could clarify that — this is absolutely contradictory to her previous words about the very close relationship with Israel and its right to exist."
"From what I hear from my friends from inside and outside the Israeli government…everybody is pretty is shocked about how Merkel did not get involved," he said.
Kramer said that given Germany’s past, it was particularly troubling that the Bundestag had chosen to criticise Israel in a way other European parliaments had not.
"This is a very unique situation. Why did the Germans feel it was necessary that they had to take a stand? None of the other European parliaments finalised such a resolution."
The resolution showed German lawmakers no longer trusted Israel’s ability to respect justice, he said.
"There are all kinds of human rights issues the German Bundestag has not taken resolutions on in recent years.
"But they seem fanatical about making resolutions on the Middle East. It seems that Germany feels it doesn’t just have to show we’ve learned all the lessons from history — which means we’re responsible — but it also means we’re especially responsible for criticising the state of Israel."
Kramer was not optimistic relations would improve soon.
"Maybe I’m wrong in my assumption that this is a change of politics in Germany," he said. "But I think it’s just hope and that there’s a low percentage chance we can change anything."
