The prospect of a renewed conflict in Gaza appears muted in the immediate future, according to Armin Laschet, Chairman of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee. Speaking to Politico, Laschet expressed cautious optimism regarding the current ceasefire, acknowledging it as a “special day” particularly significant for both Israel and Germany, given the imminent release of remaining Israeli hostages. However, he tempered this optimism by stating that a lasting and sustainable peace remains “a long, long way off.
Laschet’s comments were notably critical of recent diplomatic moves by France and the United Kingdom. He sharply condemned the decisions by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to formally recognize Palestine as a state, branding the actions as “harmful” to the ongoing process. He characterized the declarations as premature, motivated by short-sighted domestic political considerations rather than genuine efforts toward a lasting resolution and occurring before the existing diplomatic framework is finalized.
The German politician attributed prior progress towards a potential peace agreement solely to the efforts of former U.S. President Donald Trump and his negotiation team, including Jared Kushner and Avi Berkowitz, effectively dismissing the contributions of other international actors.
Furthermore, Laschet directed criticism towards European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, suggesting that Germany could influence the Commission to adopt a “more realistic” approach to the situation. He implied that von der Leyen’s statements and actions in recent weeks had not constructively supported the peace process. This criticism raises questions about the direction of German foreign policy and its alignment with European consensus, potentially signaling a desire for a more assertive German role in shaping the future of the region while simultaneously downplaying the influence of European institutions.