A prominent figure in the German-Israeli Society, Volker Beck, has vehemently rejected calls to halt arms deliveries to Israel. In a recent podcast, Beck emphasized that those seeking peace should not withhold the necessary support of arms deliveries from Israel. He argued that Israel is not solely engaged in a war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, but is, in fact, fighting a seven-front war in the entire region since October 7, 2023. Beck, a former Green Party politician, warned that depriving Israel of its strength and capabilities to effectively defend against these threats would, in turn, invite a large-scale war, as Iran is only waiting for Israel’s weakness.
This statement comes in the wake of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s recent, unusually critical remarks about Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. Merz accused Israel of violating human rights law and Beck expects alternative diplomatic signals from Germany. He suggests that Germany should urge Hamas, through all available channels, including Qatar and Turkey, to lay down its arms and release hostages, thereby bringing an end to the violence. Beck believes that if Hamas is allowed to maintain its military capabilities, the cycle of violence will simply repeat itself.
Beck welcomed the announcement that Merz would speak with the Israeli Prime Minister, Netanjahu, in the coming days. He hopes that the conversation will clarify some issues, potentially leading to a shift in the discourse.