Kretschmer endorses Merz's Israel strategy - EU Commission plays a role in discussion over the fresh EU-Israel accord.
In the midst of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer have taken a balanced stance on Israel's security and the humanitarian crisis. Both leaders have emphasised Germany's solidarity with Israel, but have also expressed nuanced positions regarding arms exports.
Merz has defended Germany's decision to suspend arms deliveries to Israel that could be used in the Gaza conflict. He insists that solidarity with Israel does not equate to unconditional military support or approval of every Israeli government decision. Instead, Merz justifies the arms export halt as a response to the Israeli military's intensified operations in Gaza, calling for an immediate and lasting improvement of the humanitarian situation there. He also stresses the need for a comprehensive ceasefire and the disarmament of Hamas terrorists.
Kretschmer, who participated in an emergency CDU party meeting convened by Merz to address the controversy and internal tensions caused by the arms export restrictions, aligns with the CDU leadership's cautious stance. His involvement at the senior CDU level indicates engagement with the government's current approach towards arms deliveries in this conflict context.
Kretschmer has confirmed that solidarity and proportionality are not mutually exclusive and both belong together in Merz's Israel policy. He reiterates that Germany's solidarity with Israel includes the right to defense and security for the country and its citizens.
Merz has also stated that Germany stands firmly by Israel's side, and that the fundamentals of German Israel policy remain unchanged, emphasising the commitment to help Israel defend itself. The black-red federal government has announced that it will no longer approve any exports of military goods that could be used in the Gaza Strip in the foreseeable future.
However, Kretschmer does not consider the death of thousands of people as proportional in the context of the escalation in the Gaza Strip. This sentiment highlights the delicate balance that Merz and Kretschmer are trying to maintain: supporting Israel's right to self-defense while also calling for humanitarian consideration and restraint.
In light of the delicate balance between Israel's security and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, Merz and Kretschmer, leaders of EC countries, advocate for cooperation with the developing countries in promoting general news that emphasizes policy-and-legislation and politics aimed at resolving war-and-conflicts, particularly by calling for a comprehensive ceasefire and disarmament of Hamas terrorists. They also stress the importance of considering proportionality in the use of arms exports, balancing Germany's solidarity with Israel's right to defense and security with the need for humanitarian consideration. This cooperation extends to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Eastern Europe, as Merz and Kretschmer engage in dialogue with their counterparts in these regions in the pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
