The Federal Government should feel disavoualed by the decided tightening of the war. Only a week ago warned Johann WadePhul (CDU) when visiting Israel and in the Palestinian areas of an annexation of the West Bank or the Gaza Strip. At that time he assumed that on the Israeli side, what he had presented as a German position.
In an interview with the US broadcaster Fox News, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Israel wanted to take control of the entire Gaza strip, but did not occupy it permanently. Nevertheless, the decision of the Israeli security cabinet is contrary to the German view that the war ends quickly and that the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza must be improved immediately.
Merz’s announcement met with sometimes violent criticism in Germany. “This change of course runs all the expressions of solidarity and promises that the Federal Chancellor has represented since taking office,” said the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, in Berlin. Israel is attacked by enemies daily and shot at with rockets. “Israel now takes the opportunity to defend themselves against such threats, endangers its existence.”
A sharp reaction also came from the Junge Union. “State Räson ticked off? A break with the principles of Union policy,” wrote the youth organization on Instagram. The JU chairman and CDU member of the Bundestag Johannes Winkel wrote on X: “As of today, Israel does the dirty work for us, only without German weapons.”
Merz emphasized that the federal government was deeply concerned about the continued suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. “With the planned offensive, the Israeli government is even more responsible than previously.
Merz received support for his procedure from Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil (SPD): “Our full solidarity applies to the state of Israel, but false must be named,” said the Federal Minister of Finance. Humanitarian suffering in Gaza is unbearable. The Israeli government is of great responsibility for this. “That is why humanitarian aid must now be let in Gaza as quickly as possible and comprehensively.” The Gaza War triggered the Hamas massacre and other extremists from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023 with 1,200 deaths and about 250.
