Germany is strengthening the protection of Israeli and Jewish institutions following Israel’s attacks on Iran, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced after a security Cabinet meeting on Friday.
They had also agreed to “take all necessary measures to protect German citizens in Israel, Iran and the region,” according to a written statement by Merz. He did not specify what these would precautions entail.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed Merz in a phone call on Friday morning about the military actions and their objectives.
The chancellor urged Israel and Iran to avoid steps that could lead to further escalation. He also stressed that Israel has the right to defend its existence and the security of its citizens.
“Germany is ready to use all diplomatic means at our disposal to influence the parties to the conflict,” Merz stated. “The goal must remain that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons.”
For years, Berlin has repeatedly expressed concern over Iran’s advanced nuclear weapons programme, the statement said.
“This nuclear programme violates the provisions of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and is a serious threat to the entire region, especially to the state of Israel.”
German minister reticent on arms for Israel after Iran strikes
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has left open the question of whether the Israeli overnight attacks on Iran will have consequences for his country’s arms exports to Israel.
During a visit to Cairo at the start of his first Middle East trip – hours after scores of warplanes targeted Iran’s nuclear sites and military leadership – the diplomat said the Federal Security Council would take its time to discuss the issue.
“But I don’t expect any far-reaching decisions to be made in the short term,” Wadephul added.
In recent weeks, there have been repeated calls from the Social Democrats – the junior partner in Germany’s new ruling coalition – for a halt to arms deliveries due to Israel’s military action in the Gaza Strip.
However, the conservative alliance of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, to which Wadephul belongs, rejects a ban on exports.
Following the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel until May 13, 2025, arms exports worth almost €500 million ($578 million) were approved for Israel, the Economics Ministry said recently in response to a question in parliament.
It is not known whether and to what extent the new German government has authorized exports during its first weeks in office.
Peace efforts
Wadephul was set to meet with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdel-Atty in Cairo on Friday amid ongoing efforts to halt the fighting in the Gaza Strip.
He and Abdel-Atty are due to discuss the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza, including ways to provide support to the Palestinian population as well as a potential path to peace.
Egypt, which borders the embattled Gaza Strip, has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinians, strongly rejecting proposals by Israel and the United States to resettle Gazans to Arab states in the region.
The northern African country has also been involved in mediating ceasefire negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian extremist group Hamas.
Germany officially supports the two-state solution, which envisions an independent Palestinian state coexisting peacefully alongside Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas both adamantly reject this solution to the decades-old conflict.
Egyptian officials might try to persuade Germany, one of Israel’s strongest backers behind the US, to exert pressure on Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza.
Wadephul has changed his travel plans in light of current events, cancelling planned stops in Jordan and Israel.
Wadephul said on Friday he would travel on to Saudi Arabia for talks on Saturday.
“Continuing the trip to Israel or Jordan at this point in time seems out of the question,” he said in earlier remarks.
The minister was originally scheduled to continue to Lebanon on Friday afternoon, with further planned stops in Syria as well as Jordan and Israel.
Source: dpa.com
