On this episode of the Haaretz Podcast, host Allison Kaplan Sommer speaks to two journalists who covered last week’s German election, which concluded with a historically strong showing by Germany’s far-right AfD party. 

German journalist Vera Weidenbach said the popularity of the AfD, which is “a direct successor of the Nazis, and, especially in the East, deeply rooted in neo-Nazi culture,” is a troubling and dangerous development, even though it did not get as many votes as its leaders had hoped. 

Haaretz’s David Issacharoff discussed the view from Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government was applauding the win for the mainstream conservative Christian Democratic Union Party led by Friedrich Merz, “the most pro-Israel politician in Germany.” 

Although, he noted, “some progressive Jews are trying to warn of this blind support to Israel, or the possible blank check that Merz could give Netanyahu to allow him to continue the war in Gaza.”

Background reading:

The Real Winners of Germany's Elections? The Far Right – and Israel's Netanyahu Government 

Only One Political Leader Can Save Germany From the Far Right 

Subscribe to Haaretz! Go to Haaretz.com and use the code HAARETZ10 for ten percent off an annual subscription.

On this episode of the Haaretz Podcast, host Allison Kaplan Sommer speaks to two journalists who covered last week&rsquo;s German election, which concluded with a <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/2025-02-23/ty-article/.premium/german-conservatives-win-election-but-far-right-afd-surges-exit-polls-show/00000195-33c6-d641-abfd-b7ee5c170000">historically strong showing </a>by Germany&rsquo;s far-right AfD party.&nbsp;
German journalist Vera Weidenbach said the popularity of the AfD, which is &ldquo;a direct successor of the Nazis, and, especially in the East, deeply rooted in neo-Nazi culture,&rdquo; is a troubling and dangerous development, even though it did not get as many votes as its leaders had hoped.&nbsp;
Haaretz&rsquo;s David Issacharoff discussed the view from Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&rsquo;s government was applauding the win for the mainstream conservative Christian Democratic Union Party led by Friedrich Merz, &ldquo;the most pro-Israel politician in Germany.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Although, he noted, &ldquo;some progressive Jews are trying to warn of this blind support to Israel, or the possible blank check that Merz could give Netanyahu to allow him to continue the war in Gaza.&rdquo;
Background reading:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/haaretz-today/2025-02-23/ty-article/.highlight/the-real-winners-of-germanys-elections-the-far-right-and-israels-netanyahu-government/00000195-3416-d09e-a3ff-751f3f650000">The Real Winners of Germany's Elections? The Far Right &ndash; and Israel's Netanyahu Government&nbsp;</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025-02-23/ty-article-opinion/.premium/only-one-political-leader-can-save-germany-from-the-far-right/00000195-33c0-d871-a5bf-b3c54c900000">Only One Political Leader Can Save Germany From the Far Right&nbsp;</a>
Subscribe to Haaretz! Go to <a href="https://promotion.haaretz.com/">Haaretz.com</a> and use the code HAARETZ10 for ten percent off an annual subscription.

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

Your audio guide to Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.

Haaretz Podcast

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer. 

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

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