Calls for sanctions against Israel have been definitively rejected by Jens Spahn, parliamentary group leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), according to an interview published in the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. Spahn questioned the feasibility and nature of such measures, posing a rhetorical question about whether sanctions would effectively translate into boycotts against Jewish individuals.
He emphasized that severing trade agreements or dissolving research collaborations would ultimately prove detrimental to Germany’s own interests. Highlighting Israel’s status as a burgeoning startup and technology hub, Spahn noted that Germany also relies on Israel for arms procurement, rendering broad, nationwide sanctions unviable.
Germany has faced scrutiny within the European Union due to its reluctance to join a sanctions package planned by the EU Commission targeting the Israeli government in response to the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Spahn defended Germany’s stance, stressing the nation’s unique and historically significant relationship with Israel, differentiating it from the positions adopted by countries like France, the United Kingdom and Australia. He asserted that it is acceptable for Germany to maintain a distinct approach in this matter.