Arms exports: freely defends Israel policy: basic lines unchanged

Chancellor Minister Thorsten Frei has also rejected allegations from the Union’s ranks that the Federal Government executed a risky change of course in its Israel policy with the stop of certain arms exports. “There must be no doubt that the basic lines of German Israel policy remain unchanged,” said the CDU politician of the German Press Agency. “Germany continues to support Israel with everything that is necessary to defend its existence and security.”

The background is the decision announced by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) that the black and red federal government will no longer export armaments that could be used in the Gaza Strip. The Chancellor had justified the decision by the fact that Israel wanted to expand its military operation in the region and take the city of Gaza. Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil (SPD) supports the exposure of arms exports. The CSU, on the other hand, came criticism: one was not involved in the decision – and considered it questionable, said Hoffmann of the “Bild” newspaper. Several Union MPs wrote on X of a serious mistake.

Free: self -defense of Israel not affected

Frei said that exposing certain exports refer to armaments that could be used in the Gaza strip. This is a well -weighed and clear response to the announcement of Israel, expanding its military operation and taking the city of Gaza. You act out of concern for the humanitarian situation in the region. If Gaza City is taken, this can also mean a high blood collar among the population.

However, it is not affected by export stop “everything that serves to defend Israel’s self -defense, for example in the area of air defense, sea defense,” emphasized. “In all of these areas, Israel is of course further supported.”

Union is planning a special meeting

In the Union it rumbles violently because of the decision. A video count of the foreign politician of the Bundestag faction is planned for Sunday. The AG on the outside will discuss the current foreign policy development, it was said from parliamentary group circles. The “Bild” newspaper had previously reported on the meeting. According to this, the Chancellor’s foreign policy consultant, Günter Sautter, is also to be switched on.

Votes between foreign politicians are common in important developments, it was said from parliamentary group circles. A spontaneous session on a Sunday in the middle of the summer break shows the explosiveness of the topic.

CSU state group leader Alexander Hoffmann criticized: “That would be a departure of decades of foreign policy continuity towards Israel and, as such, at least in need of explanation.” He announced: “We will have internal discussions in the coalition.”

The Union faction seems to split on the topic, as it was clear on Friday. While the chairman and foreign policy spokesman Jürgen Hardt called the decision “inevitable”, deputy AG chairman Roderich Kiesewetter spoke of a “serious political and strategic mistake in Germany”. “The credibility of our state ranks is precisely based on the security cooperation and the promise to protect Jewish life and the state of Israel,” emphasized Kiesewetter.

“Sharp”

Foreign politician Norbert Röttgen told the “Rheinische Post”: “This reaction is correct and unfortunately inevitable due to the recent decisions of the Israeli government.” The CDU member of the Bundestag, Carsten Müller, on the other hand, wrote to X that he condemned the decision of the Federal Government. She also overlooks “how important security policy cooperation with Israel is for Germany to strengthen the Bundeswehr and NATO”.

The Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Research, Matthias Hauer (CDU), also wrote on X: “I think it is a serious mistake and a devastating signal that Germany limits its arms deliveries to Israel.” The young Union also criticized the government’s decision.

Israel wants to expand military use in the Gaza Strip

Israel announced on Friday to expand his military operation in the Gaza Strip: After hours of consultations, the Israeli security cabinet decided to take the city of Gaza. This met with violent rejection in their own country, including relatives of the hostages in the violence of the terrorist organization of Hamas.

The Federal Government reacted with measures against the partner and thus completed a change of course. Chancellor Merz announced that for the time being, no exports of armaments were approved that could be used in this war.