Voice of an Elder: Primor's Plea for Aggressive Action Against Israeli Policies
Ex-Diplomat Primor Urges Increased Scrutiny and Criticism of the Israeli Administration - Criticizing Israeli Government Needs Clearer Approach, Says Ex-Ambassador Primor
Hear it loud and clear, folks: the time has come for Germany to step up its game in the Middle East and exercise its influence to guide Israel's decisions. That's the call to action from 90-year-old former diplomat Avi Primor. While it's fair that Germany treads carefully due to historical reasons, Primor reckons that Merz can be as bold as European counterparts.
Economically speaking, Israel's dependence on Europe surpasses its reliance on the USA, says Primor. Yet, Europe prefers to hold back and wait for the USA to lead. As Primor puts it, "Europe stays at reprimands - nothing more happens."
Merz has made his displeasure known publicly, voicing concern over Israel's recent military operations in the Gaza Strip. He questioned the purpose of the Israeli military's actions, stating, "I don't get it, 'with what goal' the Israeli army is now proceeding in the Gaza Strip." He also urged Israel to let more humanitarian aid flow into the Gaza Strip.
- Avi Primor
- Friedrich Merz
- Israel
- Germany
- Gaza Strip
- CDU
- Europe
- USA
- Middle East
Behind the Scenes
Even as Germany voices its concerns, the European Union (EU) is taking decisive steps to challenge Israel's policies in the Gaza Strip. Recent developments show a shifting stance:
- Ramped-up Criticism and Sanctions Threat:
- France, the UK, Germany, and other EU countries have intensified their criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza, with calls for sanctions if Israel does not comply with international law[1].
- In a notable move on May 19, 2025, Britain, France, and Canada condemned Israel's blockade of Gaza, threatening sanctions against Israeli officials for violating humanitarian law[1].
- EU-Israel Association Agreement Review:
- The EU has launched a review of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement to examine whether Israel abides by human rights and democratic norms[5]. Possible consequences could include suspensions of parts of the agreement if Israel falls short of the standards.
- Calls for Economic Pressure:
- There's growing support for economic measures such as trade bans with settlements and suspensions of trade provisions under the association agreement. These actions aim to put pressure on Israel to alter its policies[2][3].
- Politicians' Actions:
- Although there's no direct mention of Friedrich Merz's recent criticism in the available records, other German politicians have played key roles in the broader European initiative to address Israel's actions in Gaza more critically.
It's clear that the EU is asserting itself, employing diplomatic and economic tactics to sway Israel's decisions in the Gaza Strip. Time will tell if these moves bear fruit, and the situation continues to unfold.
- The European Union, led by France, the UK, Germany, and other member states, has increased its criticism towards Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip, threatening sanctions against Israeli officials if they continue to violate international law, as part of a larger effort to challenge Israel's policies and guide them towards compliance with human rights and democratic norms.
- As the European Union reviews the EU-Israel Association Agreement to examine Israel's adherence to these standards, there are calls for economic measures such as trade bans with settlements and suspensions of trade provisions under the agreement, aiming to press Israel to alter its policies in the Gaza Strip, illustrating the EU's more critical approach towards Israel's actions in the Middle East.
