Friedrich Merz in Spain: in Europe it is lonely around the chancellor

Friedrich Merz Don’t even try to talk around it. The concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza is shared, you also share the criticism of Israeli settlement policy. “Nevertheless, there is no secret that we both, and I want to speak openly, draw different conclusions from it.” Then the Chancellor lists soberly what he sees differently than the man standing next to him, Pedro Sanchez, 53, socialist and Spanish premier.

Palestine recognition? Are not up for debate for Germany. The concept of genocide? The Chancellor does not consider it appropriate. The differences are “no surprise,” says Merz dryly. “It also has something to do with German history.” Before the dinner together, it is clear: partners become merz and Sanchez Not more, at least not in this field.

Madrid, later Thursday evening. Merz came to the Spanish capital, inaugural visit to the Moncloa Palace, the seat of the Spanish government. It is one of these trips that are usually about getting to know each other, about mutual scanning, friendly, polite, superficial. Because at the moment in Europe However, nothing is really normal, it goes straight to the point. Dealing with Israel’s Gaza War is splitting Europe, and if you want to know what the two poles look like in the debate, it is right in Madrid.

Sanchez wants Israel Costening economically, Merz wants to avoid this. The Spaniard wants to sanction individual ministers, the Chancellor thinks this is symbol of symbols. Sanchez publicly cheered protests against Israeli athletes, Merz breaks the voice at the opening of a synagogue in Munich. Two men, two worlds. “Criticism of the Israeli government must be possible. But we must never allow it to be misused against Jews,” says the Chancellor in the Spanish capital.

Sanchez should probably understand this as a reminder, but possibly also Ursula von der Leyen. In view of the Israeli offensive on Gaza City, the Commission President has just tried another attempt to put more pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. She has that EU-States proposed to delete Israeli trade calms and to raise tariffs from Israel for about a third of the imported goods. Whether the plan will come is largely dependent on Germany.

The qualified majority is needed to implement. Means: Of the 27 member countries, at least 15 would have to agree, which together make up 65 percent of the overall EU population. Spain is there. Israel’s strategy against Hamas is wrong, says Sanchez. The result will be a “more insecure Israel”. He would think of completely different things to put pressure on him. He would like to exclude Israeli athletes from competitions these days. A boycott of the “Eurovision Song Contest” is also discussed in Spain if Israel should stay with. Hard, harder, Sanchez.

Merz avoids in Madrid to fundamentally reject the EU plans, but it becomes clear that he doesn’t think much of them. On the one hand, it is surprisingly open that he appeals to the differences to Sanchez. Too often in European politics, one has the impression that a unity is being conjured up that actually does not exist as if facades are being built, although the cracks in the background cannot be overlooked. More honesty never hurt, in politics it is like in real life. Yes, we are fighting here, but in other fields there are enough common interests, in business, Ukraine – you could see it that pragmatically.

On the other hand, it is astonishing that Merz does not even try to give the appearance that he is interested in a joint path. Gaza is not just a topic, in most Western societies the brutal approach of the Israeli government has long since caused horror. Actually, it was his claim to lead Europe and to ensure that the continent in the big questions speaks to one voice in order to resume again politically.

And now? His appearance looks like a small surrender, as if he wanted to say: it doesn’t matter to us Europeans anyway, it is half as wild when we are disagree.

However, the fact that Israel policy could still develop into a embarrassment for Europe is due to everyone involved, not only because of it. Merz would have to look for compromise lines, as he has done so in relation to the United States since taking office. However, the EU partners could just as well know that all proposals that go towards an economic boycott are hard to do for Germany.

The debate is also motivated in many places. In the EU Parliament, Leyen has to tremble for her majority in the EU Parliament, she needs the left-liberal camp. Sanchez basically trembles since he came into office in 2018. In Israel policy, he sees himself in accordance with a large part of the population. 82 percent of Spaniards see genocide in Gaza, emphasizes the Prime Minister. Merz briefly bobs up and off briefly.

The European Council is decided in October. That’s a few more weeks. It may seem unlikely that the German attitude will change, it is not excluded. In Merz ‘team the situation in Middle East is carefully observed, in addition to the Gaza War, the settlement policy in West Bank also exacerbated, this could be an occasion to join at least elements of the European proposal, for example a sanctioning of individual ministers.

The SPD has long been putting pressure in the background, even Manfred Weber, the top European politician of the CSU, warns the Chancellor not to underestimate the European mood. Some countries, like Germany, were skeptical about a harder gait towards Israel, signaled Italy in the past few days, for example.

And if Germany ends up against the rest of Europe alone with Victor Orban’s Hungary? That would also be a embarrassment. But one for the Chancellor.