Proposals have already been put forth by the Commission.
In a significant policy shift, Germany has announced a partial halt to arms exports to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing military operations. This decision comes in response to concerns over the humanitarian impact and the strategic direction of Israel's offensive [1][2][4].
Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in a statement, explained that under the current circumstances, no military equipment exports intended for use in Gaza would be authorized "until further notice" [1][2][4]. The move follows Israel's Security Cabinet's approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to reoccupy parts of Gaza, which has been met with widespread international condemnation [1][2][3].
The German government expressed deep concern about the suffering of Palestinians and stated it could no longer support the war escalation under these conditions [1][4]. This policy shift, while rooted in Germany's historical responsibility and memories of the Holocaust, also reveals growing unease in Berlin concerning Israel's strategy and its humanitarian consequences [4].
However, it's important to note that Germany continues to maintain some level of military cooperation with Israel outside the Gaza context, including procurement for its own armed forces linked to Israeli technology [4].
Jens Spahn, the leader of the Union faction, has backed Merz's decision, stating that it is justifiable [3]. Spahn also expressed his concern about Israel's decision to escalate its military operations to Gaza, which threatens to exacerbate the suffering of the civilian population [6].
Steffen Bilger, the parliamentary business manager, urged the faction to accept Merz's decision, citing the coalition peace with the SPD [3]. However, criticism of Merz's decision persists from CDU state associations and the CSU [7].
Stefan Mayer, the CSU foreign policy expert, warns of a potential victim-perpetrator reversal due to the decision, which could promote anti-Semitic foundations and efforts in Germany [8]. On the other hand, Boris Rhein, the CDU Leader of Hesse, supports the Federal Government's commitment to humanitarian aid in Gaza and calls for further military support for Israel [9].
The public opinion in Germany largely supports this partial freeze, with nearly two-thirds of the population backing the measure [5]. Despite the criticism, Merz emphasized that the fundamentals of German Israel policy are unchanged, and the federal government will continue to help Israel defend itself [2].
In conclusion, Germany has effectively suspended arms exports that could be used in Gaza due to humanitarian and strategic concerns, highlighting a cautious distancing from the full support of Israel's current military operations in Gaza without severing all defense ties [1][2][3][4][5].
[1] Deutsche Welle [2] ARD "Tagesthemen" [3] Spiegel Online [4] Der Spiegel [5] Forsa poll for ARD [6] Spahn's Instagram post [7] CDU and CSU statements [8] Mayer's interview with Funke Media Group [9] Rhein's statement to the media
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