Israeli sanctions encounter hesitation from Merz; Sánchez advocates for them
In a significant development, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently visited Spain for the first time since taking office. The meeting between Merz and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez focused on bilateral relations, European policy, and security policy.
However, the visit was not without controversy, as Sánchez expressed dissatisfaction with Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip and accused the nation of violating humanitarian international law and genocide. This stance aligns with Spain's position as one of the EU countries that has strongly criticized Israel for its actions in the region.
In a move to further demonstrate its disapproval, Spain announced a complete arms embargo and a ban on entry for individuals involved in genocide, human rights violations, and war crimes in Gaza at the beginning of September. Spain also joined South Africa's genocide lawsuit against Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2024, adding weight to the growing international pressure on Israel.
The controversy surrounding Israel's potential participation in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2026 has also come to the fore. Spain's broadcaster RTVE has threatened to withdraw from the contest if Israel participates. Pedro Sánchez has demanded that Israel be treated like Russia, which was excluded after its attack on Ukraine in 2022, in relation to the ESC 2026.
The question of sanctions against Israel is a contentious issue within the German government. The SPD advocates for more pressure on Israel, while the CSU is strictly against further sanctions. Merz, however, defended his decision from August to restrict arms exports to Israel during his meeting with Sánchez. He emphasized that Germany stands by Israel's side during these challenging times, but did not comment on the EU Commission's proposed sanctions, which include stripping Israel of trade preferences and imposing sanctions on certain politicians.
The German government plans to take a position on the EU Commission's proposals by early October. The proposals aim to pressure Israel to change course in its military actions in the Gaza Strip. The Vuelta a España cycling race faced issues due to protests against the Israeli team's participation, which eventually dropped 'Israel' from its jerseys.
As the international community continues to watch these developments closely, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming weeks. The potential implications for Israel, the EU, and the broader global community are significant and far-reaching.
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