It is a matter of German state policy to ensure Israel’s security. However, opinions differ as to whether the German army should also become active there to protect the country.
The chairman of the Bundestag’s Defense Committee, Marcus Faber, is skeptical about the deployment of the Bundeswehr in the Middle East conflict. Germany should help Israel, for example by quickly approving arms exports, the FDP politician told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). But he added: “The Bundeswehr in Israel was not asked and could not help much.”
CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter had previously argued that the German government should offer Israel military support to defend itself against the threat of an Iranian attack. His party colleague Johann Wadephul sees things differently. “As far as we know, scenarios such as military support are not on the agenda. A mandate from the Bundestag would be needed for that anyway,” the Union parliamentary group vice-chair told the RND.
The Union’s foreign policy spokesman, Jürgen Hardt, also contradicted Kiesewetter. He told WDR that one should not raise expectations that German fighter planes could be used to defend Israel. “I fear that the Bundeswehr would not be able to do that, even if we wanted to,” Hardt continued. He also believes that such questions should not be discussed openly, but behind closed doors.
SPD defense expert Andreas Schwarz told the RND: “So far, there have been no inquiries from Israel. However, I assume that the federal government is prepared for this and is in contact with Israel and its western allies on this issue.” Schwarz pointed out that protecting Israel is a German matter of state. “This is a clear promise with a very high level of responsibility. In an emergency, these big words must be followed by corresponding actions.”
The President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, was more explicit. Germany’s historical responsibility for Israel’s security is not legally binding, Schuster said in an interview with RND. Nevertheless, he stressed: “But from my point of view, this naturally means that in the event of an attack on the scale that is currently threatening, Germany will also stand militarily on the side of the Jewish state.”
The President of the German-Israeli Society (DIG), Volker Beck, also called for this. In addition, the Federal Security Council should immediately approve all arms exports to Israel. “The restraint and the bureaucratic individual decisions must now be made in the Federal Security Council,” Beck said, according to the statement. The Chancellor and various Federal Ministers sit on the Federal Security Council to deal with strategic questions of Germany’s security policy.
Source: Stern
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