Israeli sanctions do not restrict Merz from movement or activity.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz is currently on an inaugural visit to Madrid, but the topic of discussion is far from tourism. The focus is on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's proposal for sanctions against Israel, in response to military actions in the Gaza Strip.
Von der Leyen has suggested imposing sanctions on particular Israeli politicians, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who are accused of human rights violations and incitement to hatred. The proposed sanctions also include suspending trade preferences that cover 37% of Israel's exports to the EU.
The German government, however, is internally divided on this matter. The SPD advocates for putting more pressure on Israel, while the CSU is firmly against further sanctions. The CDU, on the other hand, rejects trade sanctions but is somewhat open to personal sanctions.
The discussion within the German cabinet about the proposed sanctions will continue in the coming week. The German government aims to establish a position on this issue by early October, a position expected to be supported by the entire federal government of Germany.
During a press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid, Chancellor Merz did not comment on the proposals. However, he emphasized Germany's support for Israel but does not endorse every decision of the Israeli government and defended limiting arms exports to Israel.
The informal council meeting on the proposed sanctions will take place in Copenhagen on October 1st. It is during this meeting that the German government's position on the proposed sanctions against Israel will be presented. The EU summit is scheduled to take place after the German government establishes its position on the proposed sanctions against Israel.
The discussion on this contentious issue within the German black-red coalition is ongoing, with the government stressing the need for a ceasefire and taking seriously reports by a UN commission regarding the situation. However, they have not yet committed fully to the proposed sanctions. The government continues to emphasize the importance of maintaining diplomatic relations while addressing concerns about human rights and military actions.
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