SPD group demands a change of course in German Israel policy

The SPD wants Germany to conduct a more critical Israel policy. The Social Democratic Party and Government Partner of the Christian-Democratic CDU/CSU states on Wednesday that the government should support a call from 25 EU countries to Israel to end the war in Gaza.

“It is time for the federal government to meet the initiatives at European level,” write Bundestag members Rolf Mützenich, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Adis Ahmetovic, foreign spokesperson for the SPD, in a statement that is viewed by the Süddeutsche Zeitung. The rest of the group would support the explanation, in contrast to that of the CDU. Bundestag member and foreign spokesperson for the CDU Jürgen Hardt says to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that the statement “alleged isolation of the Israeli government reinforces”.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) said on Tuesday during a press conference that there is no disagreement within the coalition about the Israel policy. According to him, the German government is already calling on Israel to “immediately” put an end to the bombing of Gaza and to facilitate “humanitarian aid.” When asked why Germany had not joined the call from EU countries, Merz referred to a previously adopted statement from the European Council, which, according to him, is ‘virtually identical’. The European Council, consisting of the heads of state or government leaders, shouted at the end of June Up to a ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages and allowing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

In addition to German support for the statement, Ahmetovic and Mützenich also want existing European cooperation agreements to be suspended with Israel and the arms export to Israel will be stopped. “We believe that this is necessary to consistently comply with our responsibility under international law, which has been established in our constitution,” said the SPD members. In addition, they call for “an end to illegal construction and settlements on the West Bank and a political will for a possible two -state solution.”

German support for Israel

In Germany there is criticism of Israel sensitive. Under Merkel, in 2008, ‘the protection of Israel’ became in 2008 State räson – part of Germany. CDU Hardt said in May NRC Not having a ‘serious indication’ that Israel uses weapons in Gaza that violate international law, and that Germany must continue to steer military equipment. He also said he was not believed in “the theory of a genocide.” That same month spoke NRC Seven genocide experts who tangled the Israeli war in Gaza unanimously as ‘genocidal’.

At the European level, a growing group of countries is urging action against the genocidal war that Israel carries in Gaza. The Netherlands took the lead in May to investigate the conditions of the association agreement between Israel and the EU. But many measures that the EU can take against the country, such as suspending the association agreement, require unanimity. Germany applies as a crossbar for the time being.

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