Disagreement persists among commission members regarding the proposed legislation.
The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed sanctions against Israel on Wednesday, following sharp criticism of Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip. However, during a press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz did not address von der Leyen's proposals.
The proposed sanctions target specific radical politicians within the Israeli government, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Minister of Police Itamar Ben-Gvir, who are accused of human rights violations and incitement to hatred. These allegations have sparked controversy and concern within the international community.
The issue of sanctions against Israel is highly contentious within the German coalition government. The SPD (Social Democratic Party) supports putting more pressure on Israel, while the CSU (Christian Social Union) is strictly against further sanctions. The CDU (Christian Democratic Union), on the other hand, opposes trade sanctions against Israel but shows some openness to personal sanctions.
Chancellor Merz has refrained from committing to any specific position, emphasising that the government will address the matter soon. Officially, the German government holds a steadfast pro-Israel support stance but also stresses that the government's policy is subject to ongoing review and criticism, while expressing skepticism about sanctions effectively changing Israel's politics.
The German federal government aims to formulate its position on von der Leyen's proposed sanctions by the EU summit at the beginning of October, which is scheduled to take place in Copenhagen. The government has noted that so far, no majority in the European Council supports these sanctions, with Germany’s position seen as a key factor for this lack of consensus.
Among the proposed measures, von der Leyen wants to withdraw trade preferences that cover 37 percent of Israel's exports to the EU. The proposed sanctions are intended to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to change course.
As the German government deliberates on its stance, the international community awaits a decision that could have significant implications for Israel's future political trajectory.
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