Germany to agree position on EU Israel sanctions by October
Germany must establish its position on the sanctions proposed by the EU against Israel before a meeting of the European Union in October, the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday during his first visit to Madrid since his entry in May.
Merz told a press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez that the cabinet would discuss the proposal of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen next week, before an EU summit in Copenhagen.
“I expect that we have a position at the informal council on October 1 in Copenhagen which is supported by the entire federal government,” said Merz.
Von der Leyen proposed several punitive measures to put pressure on the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. The sanctions would see the free trade benefits withdrawn and the sanctions imposed on extremist Israeli ministers.
From the point of view of the European Commission, Israel violates human rights and international humanitarian law with its military offensive.
Sánchez expressed support for EU sanctions, saying that Spain has long called to suspend the EU-Israel Strategic Partnership Agreement.
Merz had to discuss cooperation with Spain, European political issues and security policies in the Spanish capital. Although relations between Germany and Spain are considered good, there are differences in their position on Israel.
Merz, like Sánchez, strongly criticizes the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, but Berlin has so far rejected imposing sanctions in Israel, in addition to restricting arms exports.
On the other hand, Spain took measures at the start of the Gaza conflict. In 2024, he became the first member of the EU to join the South African genocide trial against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
In early September, Sánchez announced a full embargo of weapons and a travel ban for “directly involved in the genocide, human rights violations and war crimes in Gaza”.
