BERLIN, Sept 18 (Bernama-dpa) — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is due to travel to Madrid on Thursday for his inaugural visit to discuss cooperation between the two countries, European political issues, and security policy with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.
Although the relations between Germany and Spain are generally considered good, there are significant differences on one particular issue – their stance on Israel.
While Merz, like Sánchez, sharply criticises the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, Germany has so far rejected imposing sanctions on Israel, apart from restricting arms exports.
In contrast, Spain took concrete measures early in the Gaza conflict. In 2024, it became the first European Union (EU) member to join South Africa’s genocide lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
At the beginning of September, Sánchez announced a complete arms embargo and a travel ban “for all those individuals directly involved in the genocide, human rights violations, and war crimes in Gaza.”
On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen clarified her proposals for sanctions targeting Israel.
Free trade benefits should be revoked, and punitive measures should be taken against extremist Israeli ministers and settlers, von der Leyen said.
From the European Commission’s perspective, the country is violating human rights and international humanitarian law with its military offensive and the resulting humanitarian catastrophe.
Merz has not yet taken a position on the proposals.
— BERNAMA-dpa