The best explanation I’ve read of why Germany has been one of Israel’s staunchest allies is its development of guilt as a virtue. With a whole generation separating most Germans from the Holocaust they’ve developed a synthetic guilt that ostensibly gives them a unique perspective on antisemitism and makes them hyper protective of Israel.

This is toxic because it’s synthetic and therefore irrational. It’s predominantly a West German thing - arrogance mixed with guilt, a terrifying cocktail.