This unprecedented move in history could mark the political downfall of Benjamin Netanyahu.
In the official statement by Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the suspension of arms exports lies historical significance:
“Under these circumstances, the federal government will, until further notice, approve no exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip.”
One has to read this sentence twice in disbelief. But it is true: for the first time in history, Germany is refusing military support to an Israeli government.
Nowhere in the world is there such profound understanding for Israel’s struggle for existence as in Germany. Nowhere is there greater restraint in questioning Israel’s political and military leadership about its choice of means in fighting ruthless terrorists. No other nation feels greater pain when it must even slightly distance itself from an Israeli government. That this is now happening, and that Germany is compelled to suspend its military support, at first glance seems like a breach of its state doctrine to guarantee Israel’s security at all times.
On closer inspection, however, it becomes clear: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s uncompromising approach has convinced the German government that the time has come to clearly distinguish between “Israel” and “the Israeli government.” Germany has not turned away from Israel, but from Netanyahu. That distinction is crucial. And the responsibility lies with Netanyahu alone.
One might argue that, from a German perspective, this distinction comes many years too late. From Netanyahu’s point of view, however, it is a catastrophe. Other states could now conclude: If even Germany no longer supports Netanyahu’s course, why should we? The fact that it has come to this is entirely Netanyahu’s doing — and that is why this rupture must mark the end of his political career.
Not Even Germany Stands Behind Him Anymore
In the midst of the Arab world, near regimes such as Iran or militant groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen — all of whom seek Israel’s destruction — the country depends on reliable partners. Yet when even Germany — whose national identity for generations has been shaped by the responsibility for the horrors of the Shoah — sees no alternative but to clearly oppose Netanyahu and his radical government, then this prime minister has become politically untenable.
Of course, Netanyahu had to act after the unprecedentedly brutal Hamas attack in October 2023 — especially since the army and intelligence services under his leadership had failed to prevent the massacre. This failure put him under enormous pressure, and he responded with maximum force. In doing so, and to secure his political future, he crossed every line. Gaza became what it is today: an inferno.
The “Circumstances” Are of His Own Making
The “circumstances” cited by the German government were created by Netanyahu himself — through his government’s ruthless actions not only against Hamas fighters but also against the entire civilian population of the Gaza Strip.
The most recent large-scale military offensive that Netanyahu is preparing is explicitly mentioned as a reason for the export ban. His goal is the complete takeover of the Gaza Strip, a plan already approved by his security cabinet. Apparently, there is no functioning check in Israel on his ambitions. Even the warning from the chief of staff that this could endanger the lives of Israeli hostages in Gaza was ignored. The foreseeable catastrophic consequences for the Palestinian civilian population were disregarded entirely. The result: not even Germany wishes to stand with those who deliberately cause further suffering in Gaza.
Netanyahu has alienated Germany against its declared will and in defiance of its historical DNA. Germany’s special responsibility toward Israel — which for decades outweighed even criticism of its hardline stance toward the Palestinians — has now been counterbalanced by a moral imperative Berlin can no longer ignore.
Netanyahu will go down in history as the Israeli leader under whom Germany temporarily halted support for Israeli policy. Politically, one cannot fail more fundamentally. Only under a more moderate Israeli leadership can Germany once again stand fully at Israel’s side — which would benefit both sides.
The images from Gaza have become unbearable. Hungry people risk their lives chasing falling aid packages to obtain a little flour for their families. Aerial shots reveal an apocalyptic landscape of ruins, captured from the cargo bays of planes dropping the aid. They are images of mass death, hunger, and immeasurable suffering among the Palestinian population. Netanyahu knowingly accepted these scenes — and the impact they would have on world opinion, including in Germany, is his responsibility.
The decision for another devastating ground offensive was the last straw. For years, Germany hardly reacted to illegal settlement construction in the Palestinian territories. Civilian casualties from military operations against Hamas rarely triggered significant criticism. Even after the brutal Hamas attack in October 2023, there was no doubt that Israel could rely on Germany’s solidarity — for airstrikes as well as ground operations.
But Netanyahu misinterpreted this solidarity as a blank check to act without regard for the population of the Gaza Strip. France, Britain, Portugal, and Canada had already withdrawn their support by announcing their intention to recognize the Palestinian territories as a state. Netanyahu remained unmoved. When both Israel and Iran violated an agreed ceasefire in June, U.S. President Donald Trump reacted with an angry, sharply worded tirade against both sides — yet Netanyahu was unfazed.
A Breeding Ground for the Next Wave of Terror
With his renewed plans to attack Gaza, Netanyahu has now finally alienated Germany as well. To stabilize his crumbling coalition with right-wing nationalist forces and shield himself from a looming corruption trial that only his office protects him from, he continually escalates the conflict with the Palestinians. The result: Israel is surrounded by enemies and has lost many of its former friends — except for an unpredictable U.S. administration that shows little strategic interest in the Middle East.
Netanyahu has thus become a danger to his own country. In the Gaza Strip, a new generation of potential Hamas terrorists is growing — fueled by anger, despair, and humiliation that Netanyahu’s policies deepen every day. Naming these facts is not antisemitism, even though antisemites claim the same — including on German streets.
Standing against such a prime minister does not contradict Germany’s state doctrine of upholding Israel’s right to exist. On the contrary — it is the logical consequence of it.
Latest Posts
