Council probabilities are high to adopt the suggestions forwarded by the Commission.
In a move that has stirred controversy within his own conservative party, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced a temporary halt on arms exports to Israel, citing concerns over the potential use of these weapons in the Gaza Strip. This decision, while aimed at supporting Israel's right to self-defense, has been perceived as a significant shift in Germany's historically strong support for Israel, leading to open opposition from party members and state associations.
The discontent among conservatives is primarily due to fears that this partial embargo could undermine Germany's longstanding "special responsibility" towards Israel, rooted in historical context after the Holocaust, and weaken the alliance at a delicate time. Critics within the party, as well as Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, have expressed hopes that Merz might reconsider the arms halt, viewing it as a political setback for Israel amid its conflict with Hamas and the Gaza situation.
However, Merz has defended his policy, emphasizing that Germany continues to support Israel’s right to self-defense but cannot supply weapons for military actions that place many civilians at risk. He has excluded critical defensive arms from the embargo, such as air and naval defense technology, signifying continued backing for Israel’s basic defense needs.
The opposition to Merz extends beyond individual party members, with entire state associations voicing their discontent. Notably, Boris Rhein, the Minister President, has openly opposed Merz, adding weight to the growing discontent within the party.
As the situation unfolds, the CSU, a conservative party, is actively working on a solution regarding the arms export issue, indicating a desire to address the criticism and possibly alleviate the internal strife. The reader is advised to adjust their settings to enable JavaScript on NZZ.ch to access further updates on this developing story.
[1] NZZ.ch (requires JavaScript) [2] The Guardian [3] Reuters [4] Deutsche Welle [5] Haaretz
- Critics within the German conservative party, including Israeli officials like Prime Minister Netanyahu, are advocating for a reconsideration of Chancellor Merz's decision to halt arms exports to Israel, viewing it as a setback in Israel's politics and general news context amid its conflict with Hamas and the Gaza situation.
- The ongoing debate within Germany's conservative party about the arms export policy-and-legislation to Israel is not only a matter of concern for individual members but also for entire state associations, with Minister President Boris Rhein openly opposing Chancellor Merz, escalating the growing discontent within the party.
