 His decision followed a report in German tabloid "Bild" drew attention to a YouTube interview in which he voiced criticism of Israel and its role in the Middle East and showed understanding for Iran’s ambitions to develop a ballistic missile program.In August 2019, he was forced to resign after criticizing Israel.Erbel said during on Jebsen’s YouTube channel interview that “the Palestinians are the victims of our victims” and “there would be no Palestine problem if the Jewish state was founded in East Prussia”.