Germany's leader criticizes Israel's behavior in the Gaza Strip

Germany's leader criticizes Israel's behavior in the Gaza Strip

After decades of support of Israel, Germany is currently the focus of international debates. The dark history of Jewish persecution shapes modern German foreign policy, in which the hardly questioned commitment to Israel plays a central role.

The influence of current events

After the attacks of Hamas on October 7, 2023, the question of Germany's political and military support for Israel was raised. The then Chancellor Olaf Scholz had confirmed this support. But the recent statements by the new Chancellor Friedrich Merz have rekindled the discussion about the support of Germany for Israel.

criticism of Israel's military actions

"We are shaken by the fate of the civilian population and the terrible suffering that the civilian population in Gaza takes," said Chancellor Merz during a visit to Turku, Finland. This sharp turn in Merz ‘tone towards Israel raises questions. According to Peter Lintl, an analyst of the German Institute for International and Security Policy, Merz initially wanted to record talks with Israeli leaders to understand the political currents before clarifying his own position.

Lintl states: "The conclusion that most countries have drawn is that it is a terrible war whose goals are no longer clear." In his statements, Merz also questioned the current actions of the Israeli defense forces in Gaza and said: "I no longer see logic how they serve the goal of fighting terror and freeing the hostages. In this regard, I look at what has happened in the past few days." In addition, he warned of a thinly veiled threat to the Israeli government and emphasized that she should not do anything that could no longer accept her closest friends.

Germany's many years of support for Israel

The change in the tone is particularly noticeable if you look at the long -term attitude of Germany to Israel, which is closely connected to the concept of the “State Raison”. This theory was shaped by the former Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2008 when she explained to the Knesset that the "historical responsibility of Germany is part of the national interest. For me, this means that the security of Israel is never negotiable." Similar formulations also used Scholz after the Hamas attacks, in which more than 1,200 people were killed in Israel and 250 more kidnapped.

Since Merkel's speech, the term “State Raison” has gained importance. Lintl explains: "It seemed as if every respected politician had to use this term to signal that the security of Israel's German State Raison is. It is the minimum requirement with which we distance ourselves from the past." This "past" largely refers to the Holocaust, in which the Nazis murdered more than 6 million Jews.

The future of German-Israeli relationships

in Finland, Merz emphasized that he did not fully give up the state. "The security and existence of Israel are, as we have been saying for many years and decades, part of our German State Raison." However, it remains unclear how the relationship between Merz and Israel will develop. Despite his new position, Merz said that he would continue to stay in dialogue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and will find ways so that he can visit Germany despite the arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court against him.

Currently, the reactions from Israel are rather reserved and respectful. The Israeli ambassador in Germany, Ron Prosor, said on Tuesday morning on German television: "If someone criticizes Israel, and when Friedrich Merz practices this criticism, we listen very carefully because he is a friend."

Inke Kappler contributed to reporting.