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Last update - 21:31 05/05/2008
Poll: Most Germans say country has no special ties with Israel
By Assaf Uni, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Germany

Most Germans feel that their country has no particular responsibility over Israel's welfare, so reveals a comprehensive poll conducted recently by the German television network ZDF.

The poll, published Friday, showed that only 40 percent of the participants said that, in light of the two countries' history, Germany has a special responsibility toward Israel.

Of those polled, 53 percent said there was no such responsibility. The poll included some 1,230 participants.
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"The poll show that there is a disparity between the general stance of the political leadership and the views of the German public," said Ilan Mor, an Israeli envoy in Germany, after the televised presentation of the results.

Since the 1950's, Israel and Germany have enjoyed a "special" relationship, which includes a German dedication to the preservation of Israel, in light of the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis during the Holocaust.

The poll also revealed that 58 percent of the participants felt that Germany must come to Israel's aid should the Middle Eastern country be attacked, as opposed to 33 percent who were against assisting Israel.

Only 13 percent support granting direct military aid to Israel, as opposed to 82 percent who said they were against such a move.

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      1.   Squeezing every advantage out of the "holocaust" 16:14  |  Natallie Durson 05/05/08
      2.   Well, those numbers seem to be rather understandable...... 16:29  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/05/08
      3.   Natalie Durson 16:38  |  JR 05/05/08
      4.   "Special ties" a code for extortion 16:46  |  Germanicus 05/05/08
      5.   If you meet an (average) German on holidays...... 16:50  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/05/08
      6.   Swiss (Dino) # 2 _ Re synonym 17:14  |  Eli 05/05/08
      7.   DINO AND THE HOLOCAUST 17:19  |  Brant 05/05/08
      8.   JR 17:24  |  sweis Melbourne 05/05/08
      9.   Eli #6 17:28  |  C`est Moi 05/05/08
      10.   Maj. of those polled are muslim immigrants 17:32  |  How it is 05/05/08
      11.   Germanicus,Germany has extorted from US infinitely more 17:33  |  Absolute Sweden 05/05/08
      12.   WW II 17:36  |  Axel 05/05/08
      13.   # 6 Eli 17:40  |  Axel 05/05/08
      14.   C`est Moi # 9 - As an Arab Jew I and My Parents 17:42  |  Eli 05/05/08
      15.   Axel # 13 _ For Those Who Understand, No Explanation Is Needed 18:01  |  Eli 05/05/08
      16.   This is news ? 18:07  |  Tod Zuckerman 05/05/08
      17.   # 8 sweis 18:21  |  Axel 05/05/08
      18.   Germanicus # 4 _ Second try. Re extortion 18:22  |  Eli 05/05/08
      19.   # 15 eli 18:24  |  Axel 05/05/08
      20.   Gee, what a surprise...NOT ! 18:29  |  betz55 05/05/08
      21.   # 6 Eli 18:46  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/05/08
      22.   # 11 the idiot from sweden 18:53  |  Axel 05/05/08
      23.   # 7 Brant, stop mixing up things........ 18:54  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/05/08
      24.   To 1, 12. Nathallie & Axel. Germany 18:57  |  Altalena 05/05/08
      25.   # 24 altalena 19:26  |  Axel 05/05/08
      26.   # 6 Eli 19:47  |  Realistic Arab 05/05/08
      27.   Times they are a-changing 19:55  |  Axel 05/05/08
      28.   Germans now hope for Iran 19:57  |  Jonathan S 05/05/08
      29.   Germans are still trying to come to terms with 20:19  |  17 05/05/08
      30.   Axel 20:25  |  Adoph 05/05/08
      31.   Durson+Swiss Dino 20:26  |  Israela 05/05/08
      32.   Swiss Dino 20:31  |  Neighbour 05/05/08
      33.   # 19 Axel 20:32  |  Albert 05/05/08
      34.   # 30 20:36  |  Axel 05/05/08
      35.   Gefreiter Axelchen,South Vietnam was also supposed to be "essenti 20:37  |  Absolute Sweden 05/05/08
      36.   Dino: common sense and sincerity 20:41  |  Neighbour 05/05/08
      37.   This was a hipotetical poll,so do not jump ! 20:59  |  TOMY 05/05/08
      38.   Yes it is true 21:04  |  Natallie Durson 05/05/08
      39.   and vice-versa? 21:05  |  Axel 05/05/08
      40.   # 36 Neighbour 21:06  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/05/08
      41.   #28, Hello Jonathan 21:07  |  christoph 05/05/08
      42.   40 Percent Actually Pretty Impressive 21:13  |  bart 05/05/08
      43.   Why not Squeeze all we can? 21:13  |  Nissim 05/05/08
      44.   No surprise 21:25  |  Expat in Germany 05/05/08
      45.   # 29 - 17 22:05  |  Axel 05/05/08
      46.   Germans-What Price To Pay ? 22:34  |  Terry 05/05/08
      47.   #43 Nissim 22:56  |  christoph 05/05/08
      48.   #23 Swiss , what money ? 22:58  |  TOMY 05/05/08
      49.   Germans have no conscience 23:08  |  sweis Melbourne 05/05/08
      50.   Realistic Arab # 26 _ I Believe I Answered Your Question With My 23:09  |  Eli 05/05/08
      51.   Axel - Hohenschwangau castle, 23:32  |  17 05/05/08
      52.   Much of Europe feels the same... 23:42  |  Silvienne 05/05/08
      53.   DINO: THE ONLY MIX UP IS YOURS 23:51  |  Brant 05/05/08
      54.   # 48 tomy 00:17  |  Axel 06/05/08
      55.   #43, #46 00:26  |  Wind of Change 06/05/08
      56.   SILVIENNE:ABJECT SILLINESS 00:26  |  Brant 06/05/08
      57.   Screw the Germans: but one must consider 00:40  |  Abraham Saks 06/05/08
      58.   jewish welfare slobs always looking for a handout 01:17  |  Sam 06/05/08
      59.   Poll poorly conducted... 01:44  |  jan 06/05/08
      60.   what? 01:57  |  Ethan 06/05/08
      61.   There is a responsibility 23:12  |  german 06/05/08
      62.   #56, Brant... 00:01  |  Silvienne 07/05/08
      63.   SILVIENNE: WHEN YOU GET STRAIGHT.... 05:28  |  Brant 07/05/08
      64.   Brant, you misread what I wrote... 06:41  |  Silvienne 07/05/08
      65.   SILVIENNE PLEASE 13:28  |  Brant 07/05/08
      66.   What have you done with German Billions so far? 16:34  |  Gray 07/05/08
      67.   Terry: Uh huh. 16:40  |  Gray 07/05/08
      68.   Altalena: Just for the record... 16:48  |  Gray 07/05/08
      69.   Abraham, and others: Stolen property 17:08  |  Gray 07/05/08
      70.   Ethan: Go serve the indians! 17:25  |  Gray 07/05/08
      71.   #66 gray 21:35  |  jan 07/05/08
      72.   gray 23:28  |  sweis Melbourne 07/05/08
      73.   sweis: No, I didn`t forget that, 14:28  |  Gray 08/05/08
      74.