Axel Springer: Germany’s Ties to Israel’s Crimes

Axel Springer SE, a dominant force in European media, stands accused of
complicity in Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territories through
its historical affiliations, biased editorial practices, and profit-driven
business ventures. From its founder’s troubling Nazi-era ties to its current
role as a global media conglomerate profiting from Israel’s settlement
enterprise, the company embodies a legacy of moral and legal failures. This
essay asserts that Axel Springer’s actions, particularly through its
subsidiary Yad2, implicate it in Israel’s violations of international law,
including apartheid, human rights abuses, and ethnic cleansing. Furthermore,
it contends that Germany, by failing to hold Axel Springer accountable, is
complicit in these crimes, driven by financial interests in Israel’s illegal
activities.

I. A Sordid Legacy: From Nazi Ties to Zionist Advocacy

Founded in 1945 by Axel Springer, the company emerged in post-war Germany, but
its founder’s past raises profound ethical concerns. Springer joined the
National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK) in 1934, a paramilitary group tied to
Nazi antisemitic policies. Though he claimed his membership was opportunistic
and limited by health issues, this affiliation taints his legacy. Post-war,
Springer built a media empire with publications like Bild-Zeitung and Die
Welt, which by the 1960s dominated West German press. From 1957, he shifted
the company’s editorial stance to staunchly support Israel, a position
formalized in its corporate principles. Critics argue this has led to biased
reporting that vilifies Arabs and Muslims while whitewashing Israel’s illegal
actions, including human rights violations and war crimes.

II. A Media Titan’s Reach: Shaping Narratives and Profits

Axel Springer SE is now a transatlantic media and technology conglomerate,
headquartered in Berlin, employing over 18,000 people across 40 countries. Its
operations span News Media, including Bild, Die Welt, Business Insider,
and Politico; Classifieds Media, such as The Stepstone Group and AVIV Group
(including Yad2); and Marketing Media. With revenues of €3.93 billion in the
first half of 2023, the company holds significant financial clout. As Europe’s
leading digital publisher, Axel Springer shapes public opinion, particularly
in Germany, where its pro-Israel narratives often marginalize Palestinian
perspectives, fostering a skewed discourse that critics argue perpetuates a
German superiority complex.

III. A Trail of Scandals: Ethical Breaches and Bias

Axel Springer’s history is riddled with controversies that expose its ethical
shortcomings. In 2021, Bild editor Julian Reichelt faced allegations of
sexual misconduct and silencing subordinates with payments, revealing a toxic
workplace culture. The company’s editorial practices have been criticized for
supporting right-wing parties and vilifying Arabs and Muslims. Its rigid
pro-Israel stance has led to accusations of whitewashing Israel’s illegal
settlements and war crimes. In 2023, Axel Springer fired a Lebanese employee
for questioning its pro-Israel position, citing German labor law’s probation
period. This intolerance for dissent underscores the company’s prioritization
of Zionist agendas over balanced journalism, with critics arguing it seeks
German self-absolution rather than genuine accountability.

IV. Yad2: Profiting from Stolen Land

Acquired by Axel Springer in 2014 for $234 million, Yad2 is Israel’s largest
classified ads platform, valued at $420 million in 2025. Operating in real
estate, vehicles, jobs, and second-hand goods, it dominates Israel’s market.
Yet, Yad2’s real estate listings have sparked outrage for facilitating the
sale of properties in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, deemed
illegal under international law. Investigations reveal thousands of such
listings, including paid ads from brokerage houses, generating revenue for
Axel Springer. Some involve outposts illegal even under Israeli law, built on
private Palestinian land seized by the military. In 2024, Palestinians filed a
complaint under Germany’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, accusing Axel
Springer of enabling illegal land grabs, highlighting its complicity in human
rights violations.

V. Settler Violence: State-Sanctioned Dispossession

Israeli settlers, often supported by the Israeli military, perpetrate
systematic violence to displace Palestinians. Since October 7, 2023, over
1,400 incidents have been recorded, including deadly attacks involving arson,
vandalism, and assaults. Settlers, sometimes in army uniforms, face near-total
impunity, with the Israeli government failing to prosecute perpetrators.
Far-right ministers have emboldened this violence, with policies enabling
settlement expansion. The military frequently arrests Palestinian victims
rather than settlers, even when settlements violate Israeli law. This
state-sanctioned campaign of forcible transfer breaches international
humanitarian law, exacerbating Palestinian suffering.

VI. Legal Condemnation: The ICJ’s 2024 Ruling

On July 19, 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory
opinion, adopted by the UN General Assembly as A/RES/ES-10/24, declaring
Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories unlawful. The ruling
outlined: Israel’s presence in these territories is illegal; Israel must leave
the occupied territories immediately; Israel is obligated to evacuate its
settlements; Israel must pay reparations to Palestinians; all states are
obligated to refrain from supporting Israel’s occupation; international
organizations must not recognize the occupation; and the UN General Assembly
is called upon to adopt measures to end the occupation immediately. This
ruling implicates companies like Axel Springer, whose Yad2 platform
facilitates illegal settlement transactions, and places pressure on Germany to
enforce accountability under its supply chain laws.

VII. Looting and Impunity: Plundering Palestinian Lives

Israeli settlers and soldiers have been documented looting Palestinian
property, including household items, during violent attacks. These acts of
plunder, part of a broader pattern of dispossession, are rarely investigated
or prosecuted by Israel, entrenching settler impunity. Allegations suggest
looted items are sold through platforms like Yad2, further implicating Axel
Springer in profiting from stolen Palestinian property, compounding the moral
and legal weight of its actions.

VIII. Conclusion: Germany’s Complicity in Israel’s Atrocities

Axel Springer’s ownership of Yad2 and its pro-Israel editorial stance reveal a
vested financial interest in supporting Israel’s illegal activities, including
apartheid, violations of international law, and the ethnic cleansing of
Palestinians. By profiting from the sale of properties in illegal settlements,
Axel Springer directly contributes to Palestinian displacement and suffering.
Germany’s failure to hold the company accountable suggests complicity in
Israel’s genocidal policies, potentially driven by the prospect of financial
gains from future development projects on expropriated Palestinian land,
including beachfront properties in a depopulated Gaza. The ICJ’s 2024 ruling,
now enshrined in UNGA resolution A/RES/ES-10/24, provides a legal imperative
for accountability. Germany must act swiftly to sanction Axel Springer’s
violations and align with international law, or risk perpetuating a legacy of
injustice against the Palestinian people.