Former Israeli Ambassador to Germany, Shimon Stein, has characterized the decision by CDU leader Friedrich Merz to temporarily suspend the delivery of certain arms shipments to Israel as a reactive measure rather than a calculated policy shift.
In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS), Stein stated he perceives the decision as stemming from immediate necessity, driven by emotion, specifically frustration. He does not, however, view it as a break from long-held German foreign policy principles.
Instead, Stein suggests the move highlights a difficult dilemma for Germany, balancing its commitment to international law and humanitarian principles with its historically strong relationship and perceived special responsibility towards Israel. He indicated that in the past, considerations of maintaining that relationship have sometimes outweighed other principles, but that Merz’s decision signals a potential shift, suggesting that historical considerations are not absolute.
The former ambassador characterized the current direction of the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a misguided path, arguing it requires clear external signals. He specifically called for sanctions against Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, citing their repeated opposition to the self-determination and right to existence of the Palestinian people.