In July, Germany, together with other EU states, put the brakes on an initiative for trade restrictions against goods from Israeli settlements. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) instead relied on talks with the Israeli government. But this has achieved little, and anger towards Germany is growing in some European countries.
For some EU states the measures are not enough. Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel asked at a meeting of his counterparts: “Do we really want to wait until the government changes to finally be able to make a decision? I find that a little shameful.”
The accusation hits a sensitive spot. Germany rejects the Israeli government’s decisions, but does not want to burden its relationship with it through sanctions. As long as Netanyahu sticks to his coalition, Berlin seems dependent on the political situation in Israel changing on its own.
Netanyahu’s power comes at a price
Netanyahu currently needs the right-wing extremists to stay in power. His coalition partners Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich reject a Palestinian state and are pushing ahead with settlement construction. Without their parties, the Prime Minister would not have a majority in government. A fundamental change in course would therefore also endanger his power.
Germany does not have a clear course, as was most recently shown in August. Security Minister Ben-Gvir called for dozens of Palestinians to be targeted and killed every night in the Gaza Strip. He expressly did not only refer to people who pose an immediate danger.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) had the statements condemned as inhumane and contrary to international law. Wadephul called them “unspeakable and completely unacceptable.” Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil (SPD) called for sanctions to be seriously examined. However, Germany did not join the entry bans that several European countries imposed on Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.
At the same time, the situation in the West Bank is getting worse. Radical settlers are said to have attacked an American photojournalist and European diplomats. Israeli police arrested ten suspects. The human rights organization Yesh Din recorded at least 170 attacks by settlers on Palestinians since September 27th. Even US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for more decisive action.
The Israeli army recently launched a major offensive in the occupied West Bank after a deadly attack by armed Palestinians. According to their own statements, they entered the city of Hebron to carry out “precise, targeted and thorough searches”. Numerous buildings were demolished and Palestinians were displaced.
