Gaza War: WadePhul: No further measures against Israel necessary

Despite the growing international criticism of the procedure in the Gaza War, Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul does not believe in further measures against Israel. “The Federal Government will surely advise what exact position we take at the EU level. Next week we will take a look at it again, but at the moment I believe that we have taken effective measures and are not necessary,” said the CDU politician on Deutschlandfunk.

At the beginning of August, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) announced a partial stop of German arms exports to Israel. The Chancellor justified his decision with the Israeli announcement that the military operation in the Gaza Strip was expanding and wanting to take the city of Gaza.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed sanctions against Israel last week to move the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a change of course in the Gaza War. The federal government wants to find a position until the informal meeting of the EU state and government heads next week. The consent of 15 of the 27 EU countries, which together make up at least 65 percent of the total population of the EU. Without a yes from Rome or Berlin, this is currently not foreseeable.

Palestine recognition only hardened Israeli position

WadePhul continues to strive for a two-state solution in the Middle East conflict. He sees the recognition of a Palestinian state apart from a negotiating solution: “This only brings hardening of the Israeli position, which I don’t think is right to say that.” Several allies in Germany, including France and Great Britain, have recognized a state of Palestine in the past few days.

Of course, Germany is not neutral in the middle, but partially on the Israeli side, said the CDU politician. He speaks with both sides day and night. You have to “solve this on the negotiating channels. That is the way of German foreign policy.”