Gunter Grass Lashes Out Again Israel, Yet Again

Arutz Sheva ^ | 12/4/12 | Rachel Hershfeld

[Eleutheria5]

Gunter Grass has criticized Israel's decision to ban him from entering the country, comparing it to actions taken by the former communist East Germany and Myanmar.

"I have been prohibited entry to acountry three times," Gunter wrote, referring to similar cases that have occurred with the ex-German Democratic Republic (GDR) and a 1986 attempt to travel to Myanmar, a pre-released copy of Thursday's Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported.

In his statement entitled "Then as today- my response to latest decisions," which was published in the same newspaper that debuted his controversial poem, Gunter writes, "In both cases the usual practice in dictatorships was carried out."

Referring to Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai's decision banning Grass from entering Israel over his recent poem which accused Israel of being the largest threat to peace in the Middle East Grass stated, "Now it is the interior minister of a democracy, of the state of Israel, who is punishing me with a refusal of entry and whose grounds for the imposed compulsory measure - according to the tone – recalls the verdict of Minister Mielke."

Grass was referring to Erich Mielke who was head of the Stasi secret police in East Germany, which he also noted, no longer exists.

"But as a nuclear power of unchecked extent, the Israeli government sees itself as high-handed and until now is not open to exhortation," he said.

Grass had prided himself on being the 'moral compass' of the German people, pressing them to deal with the crimes of their past. In 2006, however, he admitted that he had been a member of Hitler's notorious Waffen SS, a late revelation....

[Eleutheria5]

East Germany no longer exists? It was forcibly depopulated to make piece with West Germany? Czechoslovakia dropped The Bomb on all its major cities? Poland invaded and overran it?

So, Gunter. Write any good books lately, or have you just been looking for a tin drum to bang on until you grow up? Anyway, come to Israel, why don't you? We'll have your trial for taking part in genocide in the same room we tried Eichman.

[muir_redwoods]

So Israel barred a former SS member from entry. Oh, the humanity.

Why wouldn’t those ruthless Israelis welcome a high level nazi with open arms? And a scaffold.

[babble-on]

He’s a very bad guy. That much real guilt can warp a person, for sure.

[Eleutheria5]

Well, let’s be fair. We don’t know his actual war record, and if he participated in the “final solution”. He might have only helped destroy a few peasant villages that partisans were operating near, or tortured a few suspected saboteurs. But shall we investigate? Perhaps my next trip to the US should include a stopover in Berlin or Bonn in the company of a fluent speaker of German?

[babble-on]

voice of reason, yes, he may only be a common mass murderer, not a genocidal one.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Israel should just casually let slip that they regard Grass in the same light as the unrepentant Nazi, film director Leni Riefenstahl. They might sneeringly add that “in both cases”, the highlights of their lives came during those times.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Herr Grass is apparently trying to prove that in German the consonants “Gr” are silent.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

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[Karliner]

Let him enter the country and spend some fun days in Sderot, him outside when the sirens go off. Then escort him to a nice grassy field for a walk about that says in Hebrew," Danger, Mine Field." I've a feeling he'd confess a few feet in if not exploded. I do not have the translation of "mine." Had to use an online translator, oh well. Possibly?

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