Friedrich Merz distances himself from the time period “reason of state” – DIG reacts with disappointment | EUROtoday

The German-Israeli Society (DIG) has criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) for distancing himself from the idea of German causes of state in direction of Israel. DIG President Volker Beck mentioned on Saturday in Berlin that they had been upset by the Chancellor’s departure. “With this distancing, he unnecessarily proves discursively right those who fundamentally object to any affirmation of Germany’s responsibility for Israel’s security.”

Opponents of the time period German raison d’état vis-à-vis Israel, coined by former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), wished to maliciously misunderstand and discredit it by exaggerating it, Beck continued.

Germany’s re-entry as an equal member of the neighborhood of states after the Second World War was based mostly, amongst different issues, on the idea of accountability for the crime in opposition to humanity of the Shoah. “And nothing else is expressed in the use of the term raison d’état.”

The Federal Security Council should now instantly approve all purposes for arms exports to Israel, mentioned Beck. With Israel’s approval of the 20-point plan to finish the Gaza battle, the entry into drive of the ceasefire and Israel’s partial withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the situations for the partial arms embargo introduced by Merz now not apply. “In order not to compromise on Israel’s security, one does not have to be a friend of the current Israeli government or a fan of the current prime minister. A sense of responsibility for Israel’s security is enough.”

In an interview with the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung”, Merz mentioned with regard to the “reason of state” in direction of Israel: “I have always had difficulty with this term because it has never been spelled out in all its consequences.” However, his perspective in direction of Israel has not modified.

Merz reiterated that “Israel’s security has always been, is and remains an important part of German foreign policy.” Every federal authorities should “reassess in light of the situation in the Middle East how we can best live up to this responsibility for Israel’s security.”