Berlin defends Merkel stance on Gaza fighting

Jan 1, 2009, 13:28 GMT

Berlin - A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected criticism Thursday of her forthright support for Israel during the conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Merkel's assessment, offered during her New Year address, matched that of the European Union foreign ministers, the spokesman said.

She had made it clear that she too desired a truce in the fighting as soon as possible, he added.

'However conditions have to be met, and the most important condition in the view of the chancellor is that Israel's security must be secured,' said the spokesman at her office.

Merkel accused Hamas of terrorism in her New Year address. On Monday, her deputy spokesman, Thomas Steg had said 'the cause and effect' of this week's fighting should not be muddled with one another or ignored.

The International League for Human Rights, a pacifist organization active in Germany, had accused Merkel of 'encouraging Israel to continue war crimes in the Gaza Strip' and demanded she pressure Israel into a ceasefire.

'If she does not, she will be guilty of increasing the spiral of violence,' the group charged.

Rolf Muetzenich, a deputy of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) which is part of Merkel's governing coalition, also criticized her, saying, 'It is not the right thing at the current time to discuss who is to blame.' He said the priority should be a truce.

But Muetzenich said he accepted that Israel was right to defend itself against Hamas attacks.