Chancellor Friedrich Merz has defended the decision to halt certain arms exports to Israel, explaining the move as a response to recent decisions made by the Israeli cabinet.
Speaking on Sunday, Merz stated that the government was surprised by the Israeli cabinet’s actions, prompting a reassessment of ongoing deliveries of weaponry potentially involved in the current conflict. However, he emphasized that Germany’s fundamental principles regarding its relationship with Israel remain unchanged.
“We want to prevent misunderstandings as if there had been a shift in German Israel policy. We undoubtedly remain at the side of this country” the Chancellor stated, clarifying that the current disagreement centers specifically on Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.
Responding to questions about public opinion in Germany concerning Israel and whether he felt pressured by it, Merz asserted that he is guided more by his own judgement and the advice of experts rather than external pressure. He reiterated that supplying arms to a conflict now pursued exclusively through military means is not viable.
“We want to help diplomatically and we are doing so” he added. He confirmed that while the decision was not made in isolation, he ultimately bears the sole responsibility for it.
The Chancellor’s stance received support from Norbert Röttgen, Deputy Leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. Röttgen explained the government’s decision was a swift response to the Israeli cabinet’s decisions regarding the expansion of the war in Gaza and military control in the region, aligning with the reactions of other European governments.
“Government foreign policy action was therefore necessary and also correct in substance, legally and politically” Röttgen said.
Regarding the monitoring of future arms deliveries to ensure they are not used in Gaza, Röttgen stated this would be regulated within the framework of the existing trust-based relationship between Germany and Israel. He sees no contradiction between Germany’s support for Israel and the suspension of certain arms deliveries, asserting that working to end the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and maintaining a strong and steadfast friendship with Israel are not mutually exclusive goals.