The chancellor said weapons deliveries to Israel would continue, while calling on the country to respect international humanitarian law. He also spoke about Ukraine and the German economy in an address to the Bundestag.
The chancellor said weapons deliveries to Israel would continue, while calling on the country to respect international humanitarian law. He also spoke about Ukraine and the German economy in an address to the Bundestag
Scholz used his speech in the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, to reiterate Germany’s support for Israel
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivered a broad policy speech in the Bundestag in Berlin on Wednesday, addressing German industry, Ukraine, domestic politics, and the conflict in the Middle East.
He stressed that Germany must keep Israel “in a position to defend itself,” adding that “Israel can rely on our solidarity, now and in the future.”
Scholz’s comments came a few weeks after conflicting reports in German media drew attention to whether or not the government was slowing down arms deliveries to Israel.
In the past eight weeks, the German government has approved military equipment and munitions exports to Israel worth around €31 million ($33.7 million) — more than twice as much as during the entire rest of the year, the German news agency DPA reported.
“There are deliveries and there will always be further deliveries. Israel can rely on that,” Scholz said in his speech.
The chancellor also emphasized, however, that Israel needed to respect international law in Gaza and allow humanitarian aid to enter the area following allegations thatIsrael is using starvation as a weapon of war.
He called for a cease-fire deal in Gaza, and repeated his belief that a two-state solution was the only way to end the conflict despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu having declared himself against the idea.
Scholz also urged Iran to stop its missile strikes in Israel, saying: “Iran is playing with fire. This must stop.”
