SPD foreign policy experts have sharply criticized Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) regarding Germany’s block on potential EU measures against Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Ralf Stegner, an SPD foreign affairs expert, told the newspaper “Spiegel” that Wadephul “unfortunately does not have enough support within his party for a measured policy correction.” Stegner expressed a wish that Wadephul would act in the interests of Germany and the entire governing coalition, adding that the minister is not representing the coalition’s collective position. He also stressed that critiquing violations of international law is neither “anti-Israel nor antisemitic.”
Similarly, Adis Ahmetovic, the SPD parliamentary group’s foreign policy spokesman, demanded a change in Germany’s stance. While noting that no one expects Wadephul to spearhead Middle East issues in Brussels, Ahmetovic insisted that the German position “cannot be a veto” when facing such obvious international law breaches by Netanyahu and his government.
These criticisms come against the backdrop of recent discussions in Brussels, where EU foreign ministers were consulting on possible action. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas suggested that restricting trade in goods originating from Israeli settlements is a viable option.
