German chancellor Angela Merkel’s reaction to Israel’s blitzkrieg of Gaza was to simply state that Germany stands by Israel.
This is the best she could muster after more than 2,000 mainly civilians had been bombed and shelled with the most advanced weaponry in history.
However, contrast this with her horror over the beheading video of American journalist James Foley by Islamic State militants which sparked government condolences to Foley’s family.
German government spokesman, Steffen Seibert, told reporters that the video released by Islamic State jihadists depicted ‘the barbaric, truly merciless murder of a person’, calling it a ‘repulsive document’. Hundreds of videos showing horrific injuries to children in Gaza, however, did not merit a mention.
Merkel’s behaviour is tragically typical of the appalling hypocrisy of politicians in the West and in Australia which is the biggest impediment to a peaceful and just resolution of the Israel/Palestine conflict.
Gareth Smith, Byron Bay
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
