West Germany’s Cdu Official Reaffirms Support for Israel

The foreign affairs spokesman for West Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) reaffirmed today his party’s support for Israel and its people but indicated that it would not advocate direct German military support should Israel require it.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency asked Dr. Alois Mertes if he agreed with the position of European Parliament President Simone Veil, of France, who said here two weeks ago that Western Europe should use “military force.” it Israel’s existence as a state was threatened. He replied that Germany’s constitution prevented such action by the nation but indicated that individual Germans could help.

Mertes is in Washington to explain the views of the West German opposition party to American officials and members of Congress with respect to the defense of the West against the Soviet Union. He was asked by the JTA if he considered Israel to be a strategic asset in West European defense and about the reported Anglo-French agreement to press for changes in Security Council Resolution 242 that would open the door to Palestinian Arab participation in Israel’s negotiations with neighboring states. He did not respond directly to those questions.

Mertes, who presumably would become West Germany’s Foreign Minister if his party took power in the next elections, spoke of the need for a “consistent” policy by the West toward the Soviet Union because “the Soviet Union wants a political victory and peace” and “control of Western Europe.” He met here with diplomatic correspondents at a breakfast sponsored by Foreign Policy Magazine.

TWO PRINCIPLES ON ISRAEL

Responding to questions about Israel, Mertes spoke of two principles held by the CDU “since 1948.” One, he said, is that Germany is in “a position of responsibility toward Israel” because Israel’s people are made up of “victims or the sons and daughters of victims of Nazi persecution.”

He said this “does not mean we are in accord with every step” taken by Israel. The other principle, he said, is the “renunciation of force” in the Middle East. “The Palestine Liberation Organization and the Arabs must have a position of non-tenor,” he stressed. “This is a universal principle. As long as the PLO uses terror and questions the existence of Israel, that threatens its very existence, Israel must be defended,” he said.

He added, “To be quite sincere, the relations of power has changed.” He noted that “the West is threatened by blackmail possibilities of the Arabs” and quickly emphasized that “We are interested in the peace process now taking place.” He observed that it would be “satisfactory” if Israel helped President Anwar Sadat of Egypt “to assure chances” of success for the Camp David accords. “We would be happy if Israel would be more flexible on the issue of settlements” on the West Bank. “But that is a matter for Israel and Sadat,” he added.

Later, Mertes was asked by the JTA if Germany would contribute military force in Israel’s defense. He replied that the German Constitution provides that Germany use its military only within the context of NATO and that Israel is not geographically part of that area.

Asked if the German government would permit the formation of a “brigade of volunteers, say in Hamburg,” to aid Israel, he thought that also would be in conflict with the Constitution. But “individuals certainly” were free to assist. He said that “in the Yom Kippur War” the CDU criticized elements in Germany that had criticized the use by the U.S. of German harbors and airports to transport supplies to Israel.