High-ranking deputies from conservative and social-democratic parties in Germany’s ruling coalition are calling on the European Union to impose sanctions on Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir after his calls for nightly targeted killings in Gaza.
“I think that targeted killings should be carried out in Gaza, eliminate 30-40 [people] every night,” said Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right party “Jewish Power,” in a podcast episode published last Saturday. He added: “Not only those who pose an immediate threat. No, there are people who are not worth living. They should not live. They are not even human.”
These statements provoked an extremely sharp reaction from Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives. Jürgen Hardt, foreign policy spokesman for the parliamentary group of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union, told POLITICO: “Ben-Gvir’s inhuman statements can only be condemned.” He added: “The EU should impose sanctions on him as a sign of universal recognition of human dignity and human rights.” Hardt also expressed his belief that the Israeli government without Ben-Gvir or his far-right colleague, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, would promote rapprochement between Europe and Israel.
Reaction of German parties
German Social Democrats expressed a similar position. Adis Ahmetović, the party’s foreign policy spokesman, noted that both ministers had shocked the international community long before the latest statements and called on the German government to support sanctions against both of them. Criticism came from across the political spectrum. Dietmar Bartsch of the “Left” party called Ben-Gvir’s statements “deeply inhuman” and called on Berlin and Brussels to consider sanctions, including a travel ban.
Markus Frohnmaier, foreign policy spokesman for the far-right party “Alternative for Germany,” said that calls for the indiscriminate killing of people who do not pose an immediate threat had crossed a “clear line.” Deputy Marlene Schönberger of the “Greens” party called Ben-Gvir an “ultra-right extremist” and his comments “deeply inhuman,” adding that they had “absolutely nothing” in common with Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens.
Change in Berlin’s position and diplomatic efforts
These statements by German lawmakers indicate a significant shift in Berlin’s position. Germany has repeatedly opposed EU measures against Israel, including proposed sanctions against Ben-Gvir in June and restrictions on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank last month.
EU sanctions require unanimity, giving Berlin significant influence over whether the bloc can act. Merz’s government has not yet followed the example of lawmakers. The German Foreign Ministry on Monday refused to take a position, while some government representatives fear that sanctions against Ben-Gvir a few weeks before the Israeli elections on October 27 could play into his hands.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will meet with his EU counterparts in Ireland on September 1 and 2, where Ben-Gvir’s statements and the war in Gaza are likely to be among the main topics of discussion.
Source: Politico
