Since the attacks of October 7, 2023, Germany has faced almost daily the limits of its doctrine of unconditional support for Israel, which arises from its historical responsibility in the Shoah. The issue of arms supplies to the Jewish State arose spectacularly on Thursday, October 10, during a debate organized in the Bundestag on the occasion of the anniversary of the attacks carried out by Hamas. While under attack by conservative opposition Christian Democrats (CDU), Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced in person that Germany would resume arms exports to the Jewish state. “We have delivered weapons and we will deliver them”stated the social democratic (SPD) chancellor, specifying that the government had made decisions “which also guarantees that there will be other deliveries soon”.
Since the beginning of the year, Germany has drastically reduced its arms exports to Israel, without officially recognizing it. During the first nine months, according to Economy Ministry sources cited by Reuters, on September 18, Berlin authorized 14.5 million euros in arms exports to Israel, compared to 326 million in 2023. The category of “weapons of war” It represents only 2% of the 14.5 million, and most of the exported equipment consists of helmets, protective vests or means of communication. “There is no boycott of German arms exports to Israel”government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in mid-September.
However, this drop in the volume of arms exports has fueled criticism against the government for several weeks, coming in particular from the conservatives of the CDU, for whom the ruling coalition shows too lukewarm support for the Jewish State. “What good are your expressions of solidarity with the State of Israel if at the same time you refuse to provide it with essential aid in its very precarious situation? »Friedrich Merz, CDU leader for the 2025 legislative elections, shouted on Thursday before the Bundestag, which had just observed a minute of silence for the victims of Hamas. “For weeks and months, the federal government has refused to authorize the export of, for example, ammunition and even the delivery of tank parts to Israel”he said, explaining that one “large number of companies” They were waiting for authorization from the federal government for months. “What does this mean if not a de facto refusal to grant export authorizations? », continuous.
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