Germany blocks arms sales to Israel: demands guarantees to protect civilians
15 October 2024 08:15
Germany has suspended arms exports to Israel after a number of government officials in Berlin blocked the process in the Federal Security Council. This was reported by Politico, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
Decisions on arms exports are approved by the Federal Security Council, which consists of senior ministers. Representatives of the Green Party, which is part of the governing coalition with Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats, opposed the provision of German weapons to the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, including Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock.
Officials insist that Germany must receive guarantees from Israel that the weapons will not be used against civilians. According to the German Military Weapons Control Act, the government must ensure that the delivered weapons are not used to strike civilian targets. Failure to comply with this provision could result in numerous lawsuits. A number of lawsuits have already been filed against Germany to stop arms exports.
Despite the fact that the German authorities officially deny an arms embargo on Israel, supplies have fallen sharply this year. From January to August, exports worth only €14.5 million were approved. And only 2 per cent of this amount was “military weapons”, while 98 per cent was “other military equipment”, such as helmets, protective vests and communications equipment.
Since March, Berlin has not approved the export of military weapons to Israel.
In 2023, Germany’s arms export permits totalled €326.5 million, 10 times more than in the previous year. Much of this was approved after the deadly Hamas attack on Israeli settlements on 7 October.
Berlin’s caution comes as a number of European governments have faced legal challenges to arms shipments to Israel or decided to limit deliveries.
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron called for a halt to the supply of weapons to be used in Gaza. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez echoed this call on Friday.
The United Kingdom has suspended some arms sales to Israel, and the United States has suspended the delivery of one type of heavy bomb. However, both countries helped Israel shoot down Iranian ballistic missiles earlier this month. Over the weekend, the US announced that it was deploying an advanced missile defence system to Israel, along with dozens of soldiers to operate it.
Earlier this year, a Dutch court blocked the export of components for F-35 jet fighters to Israel over concerns that the aircraft were being used to strike civilian targets.
At the same time, last week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the government had made decisions that would ensure further arms supplies to Israel “in the near future”.
