Germany is looking for its attitude in the Gaza War
As so often, it’s not about Gaza when Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul (CDU) sees to say some sentences about the position of the Palestinians. In the meantime, the conflict has led « to an unbearable humanitarian situation », he says in the Bundestag on Thursday and looks strictly into the plenum.
He calls his Israeli counterpart Saar almost every day. « And at this point I can only say what I tell him: The Federal Republic of Germany expects, that the humanitarian situation for the Palestinians is improved immediately and sustainably. ” This war has already asked for too many victims. Friedrich Merz showed himself « worried » when he stepped in front of the press on the edge of his visit in Lithuania.
Sharp criticism of the fire in the direction of German delegation
Israel’s security is German State Räson. You want to do that in the Federal government leave no doubt. A stop of arms deliveries, for example, is not up for debate. But the Netanyahu government does not make it easy for Germany. Many allies in the west turn away. The federal government is looking for its own way.
The ratio was last on a particularly heavy sample As Israeli forces in the direction of a registered German delegation in the West Bank. « The Federal Foreign Office sharply condemns this unprovoked fire, » it said in a message. « We can talk about luck that nothing worse happened. »
And then there is the permanent topic of humanitarian aid. Israel had retained deliveries since the beginning of March. On the grounds that Hamas would sell the goods to finance weapons. The Netanyahu government also does not trust the United Nations Aids. Israel only gave up on international pressure this week.
On Wednesday, the United Nations « picked up around 90 truck loads with goods at the Kerem-Shalom crossing and brought to Gaza, » said a spokesman for the UN coordination office for humanitarian aid from our editorial team. But it is questionable whether that is enough. In the past, the UN called the number of 500 truck loads a day to guarantee the supply of people in the Gaza Strip.
The federal government welcomes deliveries. « It is a good sign that Israel’s government now wants to allow humanitarian goods again, » says Florian Hahn (CSU), Minister of State in the Federal Foreign Office. This must be implemented quickly. « In our view, what we see so far is still inadequate, » says Hahn. « In the scope and in pace, this is simply not enough. If it doesn’t get any better, we will of course continue to work for it. »
The criticism does not go far enough for the Greens. « The mechanism proposed by the Israeli government for the future distribution of humanitarian aid breaks with the humanitarian principles and will not reach many people, » says Luise Amtsberg, member of the Federal Foreign Committee and rapporteur of her group for the Middle East. « A clear criticism of the federal government with a clear commitment to the United Nations aid structures is needed here. »
« The EU Israel Association Agreement is an important forum in which critical questions are also discussed »
The western partners also criticized Israel recently. France, Great Britain and Canada spoke in a joint explanation of a « completely disproportionate » approach. And the EU announced that the association agrees with Israel. This has been regulating special relationships with Israel since 2000-for example through the freedom as possible or access to EU programs. The advance to check the agreement came from the Netherlands. Until recently, they were still a close partner of Israel. The Greens look with understanding the decision. « It is correct and important that at the EU level is looking for funds and because of the way to increase the diplomatic pressure on the Israeli government, » says Luise Amtsberg.
Florian Hahn, in turn, sees the decision critically. « The EU Israel Association Agreement is an important forum in which critical questions are also discussed, » says the Minister of State. « In this sense, it should be used, that is our approach. Such conversation channels must remain open. » Germany, so much, seems clear, remains the closest partner of Israel in Europe despite all the criticism.
.
