Criticism and weapons: Germany's dangerous balance to Israel!

Criticism and weapons: Germany's dangerous balance to Israel!

Gazastreifen, Palästinensische Gebiete - The debate about the arms deliveries of Germany to Israel gains intensity. Federal Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul (CDU) has announced that the arms deliveries are put to the test in order to evaluate their compatibility with humanitarian international law. According to pnp.de this is a response to the intersecting situation in the Gaza strip. In an interview with the "Süddeutsche Zeitung", WadePhul expressed that, based on the results of this examination, there could even be a rejection of some arms deliveries.

This decision meets resistance within the political ranks. CSU state group leader Alexander Hoffmann emphasizes that criticism of friends like Israel should not lead to sanctions. In his view, such a measure would endanger the German state bundle. Germany has a responsibility to stand at the side of Israel, especially in the context of the current Gaza War.

political disagreements

Hoffmann's attitude is in contrast to the growing criticism of German arms exports. This criticism has increased in recent months, especially after Chancellor Merz said in a statement that the current military actions in the Gaza Strip were not absolutely necessary for Israeli defense. Merz was also dismayed by the humanitarian situation of the civilian population in the region. In this context, SPD foreign politician Mützenich called for an immediate stop of the arms deliveries to Israel.

• recent surveys and public discussions show that skepticism towards arms exports is increasing.
• Greens boss Brantner, on the other hand, rejected a fundamental freeze of delivery, but demanded that no German weapons may be used in violation of international law.
• Brantner also expressed the need for sanctions against Israeli ministers who drive the controversial settlement policy.

Germany's armor balance of Israel is remarkable. According to tagesschau.de , Germany was one of the most important arms suppliers for Israel in 2023. The Federal Government approved arms exports worth 326.5 million euros, which means a dramatic increase compared to the previous year. This increase is often associated with the Hamas terrorist attack in October 2022. By August 2024, the approved exports added up to 14.5 million euros, which indicates a significant decline.

Current developments and human aspects

The situation is also complicated by the fact that since March 2024 no permits for war weapons exports have been granted to Israel. The majority of the exports only include helmets, protective vests and means of communication. This also happened in the context of an urgent application that Nicaragua had submitted against Germany in front of the International Court of Justice in the Hague, which was, however, rejected. The Federal Foreign Office emphasized that arms exports are always under strict examination and that both human rights and humanitarian international law are taken into account.

Although there is no general export stop, the Federal Security Council, in which the Ministry of Economic Affairs is also represented, decides on the approval of exports in individual cases. Minister Robert Habeck explained that a differentiated view between different weapon systems, especially those that could be used in the Gaza Strip are necessary.

Overall, it can be said that German politics is faced with a significant turning point in relation to arms deliveries to Israel. In view of the conflict and international reactions, the federal government is becoming increasingly demanding to find a balance between military support and humanitarian obligations. The ongoing discussion shows how complex and complex the geopolitical considerations about this conflict are and indicates a possible turn in German foreign policy.