No ‘forced solidarity’ with Israel, says German foreign minister

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has warned the Israeli government not to use accusations of anti-Semitism to pressure Berlin amid mounting German criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

The German government’s fight against anti-Semitism and its full support for Israel’s right to exist “must not be exploited for the conflict, for the warfare that is currently being waged in the Gaza Strip,” Wadephul said at a conference in Berlin.

“Despite all the difficulties that exist there, we as the German government will not allow ourselves to be put under political pressure and put in a position where we have to show forced solidarity,” he said.

“Israel naturally has the right to take action against the Islamist Hamas, which is still holding Israeli hostages,” Wadephul emphasized.

But “the duration, the severity and the consistency” of Israeli military action in Gaza have lacked “proportionality,” he said.

It is also completely unacceptable that the civilian population has not been supplied with basic foodstuffs and medicine, the minister said.

Germany stands by the state of Israel and has a special responsibility towards it, Wadephul said. “But we also stand by the people in the Gaza Strip.”

With regard to future arms deliveries to Israel, Wadephul said that a red line does exist for Germany and is currently under discussion.

The foreign minister said “where the German government sees a risk of a violation of international humanitarian law,” it would “of course intervene and certainly not supply weapons.”

Wadephul said his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar is to visit Berlin soon.