Germans seeking recognition of a Palestinian State
A new survey by Forsa for the foreign policy magazine "Internationale Politik" has revealed that a majority of Germans (54%) support recognizing Palestine as a state. This figure is highest among younger voters aged 18 to 29 (60%) and those aged 60 and older (58%).
However, the German government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU/CSU coalition), opposes formal recognition of a Palestinian state before a negotiated peace agreement is reached. The government insists that recognition should come only after a two-state solution is agreed upon through negotiations. Merz himself has expressed continued commitment to Israel while increasingly criticizing Israel's humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The survey, conducted at the end of July 2021 and including 1,001 participants in Germany, also revealed that support for recognition varies substantially among party supporters. The Left Party (Die Linke) has the strongest support for recognizing a Palestinian state, with 85% of its voters in favor. The Green Party supporters also largely favor recognition, around 66%, and Social Democratic Party (SPD) voters show a majority support as well, about 52%. Support among CDU/CSU voters is not highlighted but presumably lower, aligning with the government’s cautious stance.
In contrast to Germany, France's President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to recognize Palestine in the fall, and Canada also intends to recognize Palestine. These declarations come amidst Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip, resulting in several thousand deaths, and more states are planning to recognize Palestine due to Israel's actions.
The UN conference in New York recently discussed implementing the two-state solution, a position also supported by the German government. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is on the brink of collapse and the two-state solution is further away than ever.
In East Germany, 59% supported recognition, compared to 53% in West Germany. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also threatened to recognize Palestine.
As of the article's publication, almost 150 of the 193 member states of the United Nations have recognized Palestine as a state. The current stance of political parties in Germany on recognizing a Palestinian state is as follows:
| Political Party | Position on Palestinian State Recognition | |-------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) | Oppose recognition before peace agreement; support Israel strongly (government stance) | | Social Democratic Party (SPD) | Majority of supporters favor recognition; party stance more cautious, aligned with peace process | | Green Party | Majority of supporters favor recognition | | The Left Party | Strong support for recognition |
Thus, while most German voters and left-leaning parties support recognizing Palestine, the current German federal government under Merz maintains opposition until a negotiated two-state solution is achieved.
- The Community policy within Germany, as demonstrated by the survey's findings, shows a significant split among political parties regarding the recognition of a Palestinian state, with the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) adopting a more cautious stance in tandem with their opposition to recognition prior to a negotiated peace agreement.
- The Employment policy within Germany, influenced by the current political climate, reveals a majority of supporters for various political parties favoring the recognition of a Palestinian state, while the German government, under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, aligns its stance with Israel and insists on recognition only after a two-state solution is negotiated and agreed upon.
