Germany's Israel policy is changing — Friedrich Merz's support for Palestinians' right to statehood is proof

Indian Express

7 days ago

Written by Ashutosh Nagda
In a move that could surprise many observers of German foreign policy, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has openly criticised Israel's military strategy in Gaza. Speaking at his annual summer press conference on Friday, Merz said Israel's approach to the war in Gaza was 'no longer acceptable', marking the second time in a single week that he has publicly questioned the conduct of Israel's war. Days earlier, in an interview with a German media outlet, Merz reaffirmed the Palestinians' right to statehood and expressed concern over Israel's actions in Gaza.
While the remarks stop short of a fundamental policy reversal, they reflect a shift in tonality. Germany has long been one of Israel's staunchest allies, with its support rooted not just in strategic alignment but in the moral reckoning of its history. Germany's post-Holocaust relationship with Israel has always been layered with moral weight and historical obligation. Since the end of World War II, successive German governments across the political spectrum have enshrined a doctrine of 'Staatsräson' (reason of state), wherein the security of Israel is seen as part of Germany's national responsibility.
Against this backdrop, Merz's remarks are noteworthy. The shift is not in Germany's foundational support for Israel's right to exist or defend itself; Merz and his government have continued to reiterate that support. What might seem to be changing, however, is Germany's willingness to draw public lines around how Israel exercises that right, particularly when civilian suffering in Gaza is mounting and prospects for peace seem increasingly remote. It is worth noting that the previous government has also attempted to persuade Israel to adopt a different approach to the war in Gaza.
As chancellor, Merz might be attempting to address several audiences simultaneously: The German public, the Israeli government and his EU allies. Domestically, the comments allow him to extend a mild rapprochement, if any, to the pro-Palestinian Germans who have found themselves on the wrong end of the baton since October 7. They also act as an overall response to increasing criticism that Germany has disregarded humanitarian suffering in Gaza. Internationally, they align Germany more closely with the emerging consensus for recognising Palestinian statehood and conditioning future ties with Israel on meaningful progress toward a two-state solution.
This move also furthered a broader European frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline policies. EU leaders have time and again grown wary of Netanyahu's rejection of a Palestinian state, his expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and the absence of a long-term political vision beyond military operations. Just a day before Merz's statement, Giorgia Meloni of Italy called the Israeli attack on the church in Gaza 'unacceptable', furthering her call from May urging Israel to respect international law in its military operation in Gaza. With this context, Merz's statement seems like an attempt to restore moral and diplomatic balance to Germany's Israel policy, one that still upholds Israeli security but not at the cost of Palestinian rights or EU credibility.
Merz's remarks also draw attention to a deeper tension in Germany's foreign policy of upholding a consistent, values-based stance across different global crises. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Berlin has presented itself as a moral actor championing territorial sovereignty, international law, and civilian protection. Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz had, in 2022, written in an op-ed that Germany would be 'doing everything it can' to foster an international order based on democracy, security, and prosperity. Berlin's leadership within the EU on sanctions against Russia, military aid to Ukraine, and the defence of democratic values has reinforced this image.
Yet, Germany's relatively muted criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza has exposed accusations of double standards. Why is Russia condemned as a violator of international norms for targeting civilians in Ukraine, while Israel is shielded from similar scrutiny despite comparable devastation in Gaza? The perceived inconsistency in the German 'values' has undermined their credibility in the Global South and has fuelled the call for Western hypocrisy. Merz's recent intervention can then be seen as an effort to close that values gap and demonstrate his and Germany's commitment to humanitarian principles that apply universally.
While Merz's comment is important and rare, caution should prevail. The immediate impact of this on German-Israeli relations is likely to be limited. Israel remains one of Germany's closest allies outside of Europe, and both countries share deep economic, cultural, and security ties. Thus, a shift in political and strategic mood is a distant thought, but what is potentially shifting is the rhetorical mood. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza persists and intensifies, Germany can be expected to make stronger statements. But will that lead to any actions, such as backing UN resolutions, supporting aid initiatives over Israeli objections, or even pausing certain arms exports? Unlikely.
Within the European Union, Merz's statement could act as a bridge between the more pro-Israel northern European bloc (Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic) and southern states more vocal about Palestinian rights (Spain, Ireland, Portugal). Germany has often played a mediating role in EU foreign policy, and Merz may now be positioning Germany and, by extension, himself as a voice for restraint, humanitarianism, and diplomacy.
What Merz's remarks ultimately reflect is a growing realisation that unwavering support for Israel's security cannot be a blank cheque. If Germany wants to remain a credible voice in global affairs, particularly in the Middle East, and strengthen its global south outreach, it must grapple with the contradictions of supporting a military campaign that many view as disproportionate, while also championing human rights and international law.
The writer is a political analyst and German Chancellor Fellow (2023–24), based between New Delhi and Berlin. He writes on foreign policy, electoral trends, and domestic politics