"Support 'Israel' or Resign": Politico, Telegraph CEO to staff

• Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner told staff that backing 'Israel' is a non-negotiable "core value" of the company.
• Döpfner suggested that those who disagree should leave.
• Journalists at Politico accused Döpfner of using the outlet to push a personal political agenda.
• The mandate comes as Axel Springer finalizes its £575 million acquisition of the Daily Telegraph.

In a tense 40-minute internal meeting on Monday, Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner made it explicitly clear that support for 'Israel' is not an editorial suggestion, but a requirement of employment.

Addressing staff at Politico -which the German giant acquired in 2021- Döpfner stated that if a journalist questions 'Israel's' right to exist or the company's pro-'Israel' stance, they are "not a good fit" for the organization.

"If that is something that somebody wants to question, then we are really reaching the very fundamental principles of our values," Döpfner told employees.

He framed the mandate as part of the company’s "Essentials," a five-point corporate constitution that places the defense of 'Israel' alongside freedom of speech and free-market economics.

"Zionism above all"

The backlash against Döpfner’s leadership has intensified following the resurfacing of a leaked email published by Die Zeit.

In the message, Döpfner summarized his political credo with the phrase: "Zionism uber alles. 'Israel' my country."

The phrase "uber alles" (above all else) is highly inflammatory in Germany due to its association with the Nazi-era national anthem.

While Döpfner has defended his stance as a necessary moral response to German history, critics argue that his "Germany’s Rupert Murdoch" approach is incompatible with the "impartial news" brand that Politico and the Telegraph rely on for credibility.

Journalists push back

Prior to the meeting, Politico staffers sent a formal letter to incoming editor-in-chief Jonathan Greenberger, raising alarms over Döpfner’s recent editorial opinion. They specifically cited pieces where he:

• Referred to Iran as an "aggressor" systematically pursuing nuclear weapons without providing evidentiary context.
• Characterized European aid to Palestine as "funding terrorism."
• Dismissed hashtags like #FreePalestine as "pro-Hamas topics."

Staff warned that such interventions risk "taking on the appearance of a propaganda outlet."

During the meeting, Döpfner rejected calls for stricter evidentiary standards for his own writing, asserting that the "aggressive" nature of Iran is as "obvious" as the fact that America is a democracy.

Future of Telegraph

The controversy carries added weight following the UK government's recent clearance of Axel Springer’s takeover of the Daily Telegraph.

With the deal finalized in March 2026, the "Essentials" now apply to one of Britain’s most influential newspapers.

Inside the Telegraph newsroom, journalists have expressed "grave concern" that their reporting on the ongoing International Court of Justice (ICJ) genocide case against 'Israel' -which has seen casualties in Gaza exceed 72,000- will be subject to a "purity test" from Berlin.

As Döpfner vows to "write more in the future, not less," the line between corporate ownership and editorial independence appears to have reached a breaking point.