Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has rejected criticism of his announcement to partially halt arms deliveries to Israel and assured the country of the federal government's solidarity. “We stand without a doubt on the side of this country,” Merz told ARD on Sunday. “The principles of German policy toward Israel remain unchanged,” Merz clarified. “Nothing has changed in this regard, and nothing will change.” Previously, the CSU in particular had criticized the decision and requested talks.
On Friday, Merz announced that “until further notice, no exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip” would be approved for Israel. Merz was responding to the Israeli security cabinet's decision to approve a plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the Gaza Strip. The plan calls for the Israeli army to take control of the city of Gaza.
“We have a disagreement, and it concerns Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip,” Merz said, explaining his decision. “But that doesn't mean our friendship is over.” Solidarity with Israel does not mean that the German government approves of every decision made by the Israeli government. But Germany cannot “supply weapons in a conflict that is now being attempted to be resolved exclusively by military means.” Instead, Merz emphasized: “We want to help diplomatically, and we are doing so.”
“We are currently having very critical discussions with each other,” Merz said, referring to the relationship with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu. But that must be possible, he added. “The climate for discussion is still open. We will see each other, we will meet,” Merz continued. The chancellor emphasized that Germany is not a “mediator” in the conflict, but stands alongside Israel. The federal government is therefore not prepared to suspend the EU Association Agreement or trade relations with Israel.
Within the Union, however, Friday's move was controversial: the CSU in particular expressed criticism and stated that it had not been involved in the decision. The CSU's regional group leader in the Bundestag, Alexander Hoffmann, announced in the “Bild” newspaper that there was a need for discussion. “The CSU was not involved in this decision and we consider it questionable,” he said.
Hoffmann continued: “This would be a departure from decades of foreign policy continuity toward Israel and, as such, at least requires explanation. We will hold internal discussions on this within the coalition.” An initial discussion took place on Sunday: The foreign policy working group of the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag convened for a special meeting. Due to the parliamentary summer recess, the consultations took place via video conference. Merz's foreign policy advisor Günter Sautter is said to have participated as a guest.
Merz himself defended his decision on Sunday. He said he “did not make it alone, but at the end of the day, it is a decision for which I alone am responsible, and I alone will take responsibility for it.” However, he added that he could not “put it to a democratic vote,” referring to the discontent within the Union.
CSU politicians also feared disadvantages for German security authorities. The question must be asked, “What happens if the Israeli government turns the tables and we no longer receive support from Israel – be it in air defense or Mossad information on counterterrorism,” said CSU politician Stephan Pilsinger, referring to the Israeli secret service. “Currently, we benefit more from Israel in terms of security policy than Israel benefits from us,” he said in the Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper.
CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen, on the other hand, rejected the criticism and sided with the chancellor. The federal government assumes “that an expansion of the war would lead to a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation,” Röttgen told the newspaper Welt. “The federal government must not – legally or politically – provide support for this by supplying weapons for the war in Gaza.”
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