Union confirms: no weapons stops for Israel despite growing criticism!

Union confirms: no weapons stops for Israel despite growing criticism!

The Union faction in the Bundestag has clearly spoken out against a stop of the arms deliveries to Israel. This was unanimously decided by Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul (CDU) and the parliamentary group. The political demands of the SPD, in particular due to the worrying humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, were noted, but without concrete consequences in the form of a weapon stop. Instead, criticism of the Israeli government is to be expressed, but this will not lead to a change in arms export policy.

Since Hamas's terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, the Federal Government has approved arms exports to Israel worth 485.1 million euros, which are valid until May 13, 2025. These figures come from a response from the Ministry of Economic Affairs to a request from the left faction. A spokesman for the Union faction, Steffen Bilger, referred to the threat of Israel through attacks from Yemen and Iran and emphasized the need for support.

criticism and legal challenges

The Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) criticized the Israeli government, but without considering the project of a weapon export release. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) emphasized that the state rush to Israel remains decisive for the decision on arms exports. Ulrich Thoden from the left, on the other hand, calls for the immediate setting of all arms deliveries to prevent Germany from being regarded as aid to international law crimes.

The legal challenges regarding arms exports have also increased. Nicaragua filed a lawsuit against Germany at the International Court of Justice because of alleged aid to genocide. This lawsuit was not dismissed, but the court rejected an urgent application for the immediate stop of the deliveries. This illustrates the complex legal situation in which Germany is on Israel with regard to arms exports.

public opinion and political debates

In addition, a survey by the opinion research institute Insa reflects that 58 percent of Germans support the exposure to the arms deliveries to Israel. Federal Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan emphasized the need to put pressure on Israel to improve the humanitarian situation. The group vice of the Greens, Andreas Audretsch, also spoke out for an export stop of offensive weapons to Israel. The discussion about German armaments to Israel remains highly topical and controversial.

This development shows a growing gap between the current government position and the demands from the opposition and civil society. While the Union reaffirms unbroken support for Israel, the pressure is growing from different sides to rethink the moral and legal implications of arms exports. The continuing conflicts in the Middle East and the geopolitical tensions will continue to influence the debate.