On Friday, Friedrich Merz’s launched an embargo on exporting some arms to Israel. By Monday morning, it’s already clear that many in his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party hates him for it.
By stopping the flow of weaponry that could be used in the bombardment on the Gaza Strip, the chancellor is effectively heralding a new era in the two countries’ relationship.
For a start, the development marks the first time that Berlin has effectively imposed sanctions on Israel over the current war. That’s proven unpopular inside his party, since Merz’s allies accuse him of abandoning Israel – making matters worse, they say he did not consult them first. And they have not been shy about making themselves heard.
“The CSU was not involved in the decision; we consider it to be questionable”, Alexander Hoffmann, who leads the Bavarian sister group of the CDU in the parliament, told daily BILD.
Other MPs took to social media and TV to make their displeasure known.
Foreign policy deputy Roderick Kiesewetter called it a “serious political and strategic mistake” in a social media post.
In the late 2000s, then-Chancellor Angela Merkel, a long-time rival for Merz, declared Israel as Germany’s Staatsräson, making protection of the country a key national interest. By stopping the flow of arms, Germany was breaking “a long-standing friendship and trust, while Staatsräson remains an empty, unbelievable shell”, Kiesewetter said. “This will not free a single hostage.”
Matthias Hauer, a state secretary at the research ministry, said the move was a “disastrous signal”. Meanwhile, another Christian Democrat MP, Carsten Müller, “strongly condemned” the move online.
On Saturday, Merz sent out his head of cabinet, Thorsten Frei, hoping to quell the discontent. “There must be no doubt whatsoever that the basic principles of German policy towards Israel remain unchanged”, he told dpa.
Simultaneously, the chancellor’s office sent out a three-page document, published by daily Welt, with additional explanations in hopes of heading off criticism. One reason cited for the move – avoiding “social conflicts in Germany and Europe” – added fuel to the fire.
“We must not allow foreign policy decisions to be influenced by the anti-Semitic mob on our streets”, said Dennis Radtke, an MEP who heads the workers’ wing in the party.
A Sunday emergency meeting of the party’s foreign policy experts with Merz advisor Günter Sautter was quickly scheduled to quell the rebellion.
Meanwhile, Merz himself took to the air waves to address both public and party at once.
“The principles of German policy towards Israel remain unchanged,” he told public broadcaster ARD in an interview. Berlin would “continue to help [Israel] defend itself”, Merz added.
However, he added “we cannot supply weapons to a conflict that is now trying to be resolved exclusively by military means”.
Israel’s plans to occupy the entire region could cause “hundreds of thousands of civilian victims and require the evacuation of the entire city of Gaza”, the German politician said. “Where should these people go?”
(jp)