For the first time, Merz is criticizing the Israeli approach in Gaza

It is a significant change of course in German Israel policy: Chancellor Friedrich Merz has practiced open criticism of Israel’s procedure for the first time in the Gaza Strip. « To affect the civilian population in such a way that this has been increasingly the case in the past few days can no longer be justified with a fight against Hamas terrorism, » he said at the digital conference Re: Publica in Berlin. Germany has to hold back to Israel as far as no other country in the world, he added. « But if boundaries are exceeded, where the humanitarian international law is now really violated, then Germany also has to say, then the German Federal Chancellor also has to say something. »

« I am very happy that Friedrich Merz said the right time at the right time, » says Norbert Röttgen, Union faction vice, our editorial team. « Especially from our unbreakable solidarity with Israel, it is our duty to openly address Israel when the limits of defense, fight against terrorism and thus international law are exceeded. » Röttgen itself calls on the Israeli government to military reluctance to its major offensive. “The resulting and suffering causes so many Innocent Palestinians Must be ended immediately.  » According to agreed media reports, Israel’s military plans to take three quarters of the sealed -up Gaza Strip within a few weeks.

Dealing with Israel recently also smoldered within the black-red coalition. Vice Chancellor and SPD-The boss Lars Klingbeil had asked to put the Israeli government under more pressure in order to avert the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. The SPD’s foreign policy spokesman, Adis Ahmetovic, asked to suspend German arms exports to Israel. « German weapons must not be used to spread humanitarian disasters and to break international law, » he told the magazine star. The topic is to be dealt with in the coalition committee, which meets for the first time this Wednesday. The criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right coalition Always louder. The EU questions an important partnership agreement with Israel.

Israel’s security is considered part of the German State Räson

In this debate, Germany had held back, according to the foreign policy tradition. Ex-Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has secured his solidarity since Hamas’s terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. Ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel described the security of Israel in a speech in front of the Knesset in 2008 in a speech in front of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. However, since Israel’s new military offensive in the Gaza Strip and the blockage of aid deliveries for the area several weeks have been heard more warning voices.

At the same time, the federal government is trying to emphasize the partnership between Germany and Israel. « But the Israeli government must not do anything that at some point her best friends are no longer willing to accept, » emphasized Merz. Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul said: « On the one hand, we stand by the state of Israel, we are responsible for him and on the other hand we are of course the basic value of humanity and of course see the suffering of these people. »