Israeli sanctions stance uncertain with Merz, while Sánchez supports
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently made his first visit to Spain since his inauguration, meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The two leaders discussed various topics, but it was the differing stances on Israel that dominated the headlines.
During the visit, Sánchez expressed his support for the EU Commission's proposed sanctions against Israel. This stance is in response to Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip, an issue that has been strongly criticised by several EU countries, including Spain.
In a move to further demonstrate Spain's position, the country joined South Africa's genocide lawsuit against Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2024. Spain argues that Israel should be treated similarly to Russia, which was excluded after its comprehensive military attack on Ukraine in 2022.
The question of sanctions 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 defended his decision from August to restrict arms exports to Israel, but refrained from commenting on the EU Commission's proposed sanctions.
The meeting between Merz and Sánchez focused mainly on bilateral relations, European policy, and security policy. However, the differences in Israel policy were a dominant topic at the joint press conference.
The visit was not without controversy. Spain faced issues with the Vuelta a España cycling race due to protests against the Israeli team's participation. In response, Israel-Premier Tech, the Israeli team, removed 'Israel' from its jerseys during the race.
Spain's broadcaster RTVE, one of the five major financial contributors to the Eurovision Song Contest, has threatened to withdraw if Israel sends a contribution to ESC 2026. Spain is also threatening to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 if Israel participates.
Despite these differences, Merz emphasized that Germany stands by Israel's side. This statement comes after Spain imposed a complete arms embargo and banned entry for individuals involved in human rights violations and war crimes in Gaza in early September.
It is worth noting that Spain has surpassed all other EU states in the number of visits by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz since his taking office in 2021. The future discussions on the EU Commission's proposed sanctions against Israel are expected to take place in early October, when the German government will discuss its position.
The visit of Chancellor Merz to Spain serves as a reminder of the complexities and nuances in the international political landscape, particularly in the context of the Middle East and the EU's relations with Israel.
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