Israeli sanctions do not encompass Merz
The German government is set to formulate a position on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's proposal for sanctions against Israel, with the decision expected to be made by the EU informal meeting on October 1st in Copenhagen.
Von der Leyen's proposal, which has been met with criticism from several states, suggests revoking trade preferences for 37% of Israel's exports to the EU as a punitive measure. The aim is to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government into changing course.
The question of sanctions is highly contentious within the black-red coalition, with the SPD advocating for more pressure on Israel and the CSU against further sanctions. The CDU, on the other hand, shows some openness mainly towards personal sanctions but not trade sanctions.
The discussion about the proposal will take place within the German cabinet in the coming week. The visit of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Madrid, although unrelated to the sanctions proposals, is a significant event in the context of the discussion and decision about the proposal for sanctions against Israel.
Von der Leyen's proposal includes suggestions to impose sanctions on radical politicians like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who have been accused of human rights violations and incitement to hatred. However, the details of how these sanctions would be implemented remain unclear.
The German government plans to present its position at the informal council, where it will discuss the proposal with other EU members. The EU summit at the beginning of October is another significant event for the discussion and decision about the proposal for sanctions against Israel.
During his visit to Madrid, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz did not comment on the sanctions proposals, maintaining a diplomatic silence on the matter. The proposal for sanctions against Israel is a matter of concern for the German government, with the decision expected to have far-reaching implications for relations between Germany and Israel, as well as Germany's relations with other EU members.
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