Summary
Dirk Rochtus
Houdt de spoorweg Berlijn-Bagdad op in Beiroet?
Dirk Rochtus looks at German policy towards the Middle East. The Federal Republic participates in the Unifil peacekeeping-mission with the German navy con-trolling the territorial waters of Lebanon. Angela Merkei argues that Germany is obliged to do so as the right of Israël to exist is an element of German Staatsrdson. But this German engagement, with its reminiscence to the times when the German Empire was active in the Middle East with the Bagdadbahn, does not constrain itself to defending Israël. It is also about defending the values that liberal democracies share in their fight against fundamentalism.