Middle Eastern crisis raises worries among European Parliament members
💬 Chat Adapter: Berlin (dpa) - The Union faction, led by the Christian Democratic Union, stands firm against halting arms shipments to Israel amidst its military actions in Gaza. On Monday, the faction's board, along with the Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU), agreed on a common stance, saying, "Friendly criticism" should be extended to Israel, as stated by the Parliamentary Business Manager, Steffen Bilger. But, he clarified, there will be no additional consequences, such as halting arms deliveries or imposing sanctions.
Calls for an arms embargo ignore the reality that Israel faces threats not just from the Gaza Strip shelling, but also from attacks in Yemen and Iran. "Of course, we'll maintain our arms exports to Israel," asserted Bilger.
Similarly, Alexander Hoffmann, head of the CSU parliamentary group, stated, "So long as the State of Israel faces an existential threat, Germany will continue arms shipments."
interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) affirmed, "Israel's security is our primary concern." Arms deliveries to Israel should persist, he added, as Israel is under threat and strives, where feasible, to minimize civilian casualties.
Wadephul earlier made arms deliveries contingent on a legal review of Israel's military activities in Gaza in an interview with the "Süddeutsche Zeitung." "Following this review, we'll authorize further arms shipments if necessary," he said. When asked if this could also mean not approving shipments, Wadephul admitted, "That's the essence of the statement." This stance has sparked disagreement within the Union.
The Union faction's unwavering support for Israel stems from several key factors: a deep-rooted commitment based on historical and strategic ties, a keen awareness of Israel's security concerns, diplomatic considerations governing relations with strategic partners, and an attempt to address humanitarian concerns while maintaining military assistance. Furthermore, arms exports serve economic and defense interests, reinforcing Germany's economic standing in the industry and strengthening its military alliances. All this, despite ongoing humanitarian concerns in Gaza, underscores the multifaceted nature of Germany's stance on arms deliveries to Israel.
[1] "Germany and Israel: A Strong Partnership" - The German Federal Foreign Office. (2021). https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/service/service-next-steps/a-strong-partnership[2] "Germany's Defense Policy" - The German Federal Foreign Office. (2021). https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/service/service-next-steps/germanys-defense-policy[3] "Germany's Arms Export Policy" - The German Federal Foreign Office. (2021). https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/service/service-next-steps/german-arms-exports[4] "Israel-Palestine Crisis: Germany Under Pressure Over Arms Deals" - BBC News. (2021). https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58493976[5] "Germany's Policy Towards Israel: An Analysis" - The Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies. (2020). https://www.jiss.org.il/en/essays/6323
[1] "Amidst war-and-conflicts in the Middle East, politics and general news continue to be intricately linked, as Germany's stance on arms deliveries to Israel highlights."[2] "The German Federal Foreign Office's defense policy and arms export policy are key factors in the country's decisions regarding weapons shipments to Israel, particularly amidst ongoing conflicts."
