A leading figure within Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has publicly supported Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s decision to partially halt arms deliveries to Israel. Dirk Wiese, the SPD’s parliamentary manager, stated in an interview that the move was “absolutely correct” emphasizing Germany’s commitment to Israel’s security as a core tenet of state policy.
However, Wiese clarified this commitment does not equate to unconditional support for the current Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing concerns regarding its actions. He acknowledged internal debate within the conservative CDU/CSU bloc regarding the Chancellor’s decision, but defended it as justifiable.
While affirming Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas, Wiese expressed strong criticism of the Netanyahu administration’s recent decisions, describing them as exceeding acceptable limits and, in some instances, potentially violating international law. He argued these policies have failed to secure the release of remaining hostages or alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, instead exacerbating the suffering of civilians.
Wiese concluded that Germany cannot ignore these developments and must factor them into its policy considerations regarding arms exports.