Isarel’s head of government, Benjamin Netanyahu, sharply criticized Merz’s decision in the summer and declared that the decision was intended to reward the Islamist Hamas for its terror. In a dpa interview last week, Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor again called for the ceasefire to be used as an opportunity to lift export restrictions. There are “beautiful words” to say that Israel has the right to defend itself, he said. “But if Israel doesn’t have the resources, then it’s problematic.”
The federal government is now returning to its previous practice. “The announcement of August 8th on the export practice for certain military equipment does not continue to apply in view of the changed circumstances,” explained Kornelius. However, this does not mean that all applications will be approved. The federal government examines each individual case.
War weapons exports have not been approved by the federal government since last spring. However, it can be assumed that Israel can now again purchase engines for its Merkava tanks, which are produced by the German company Renk.
The federal government’s export guidelines actually generally prohibit the delivery of military equipment to war and crisis areas. But there are exceptions. This includes supporting Ukraine in the defensive fight against the Russian attackers and Israel is also a special case. Because of the murder of six million Jews in Europe under German Nazi rule, Israel’s security is considered a raison d’être for Germany. That is why, for example, the export of submarines to Israel is subsidized with tax money.
After Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the federal government initially even increased arms exports to Israel to show solidarity. The government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) issued export licenses worth almost half a billion euros until it was replaced on May 6, 2025. Merz’s black-red government also continued to allow the export of military equipment to Israel, but only to a limited extent.
German arms exports have also been a matter for the judiciary for some time. A lawsuit from the Latin American country of Nicaragua is pending at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, accusing Germany of complicity in genocide. Just last week, the Berlin Administrative Court rejected complaints from several Palestinians citing the export ban. There is now a new basis for assessment for these complaints.
