Germany has recently signalled an important policy shift by keeping all options on the table instead of opposing sanctions against Israel, a former German ambassador to the Middle East has told The National.
“We are seeing a growing change in language,” Martin Kobler said. “This is due, of course, to the aggravating situation which is just unbearable and unjustifiable.”
Germany’s approach has traditionally been shaped by the principle of Staatsrason, which translates as reason of state – the idea that unwavering support for Israel is a core German interest, rooted in the historical responsibility of the Holocaust. But recent developments suggest this stance is being reassessed in light of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In the past days, politicians from the centre-right Christian Democratic alliance (CDU/CSU), led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and the Social Democrats (SPD) have come out in support of measures such as a partial weapons embargo, or suspending Israel from the flagship EU-funded research programme, Horizon Europe. In May, Germany's anti-Semitism co-ordinator Felix Klein said Staatsrason did not “justify everything”.
“The government is keeping options open,” Mr Kobler said. A former ambassador to Pakistan (2017-2019), Egypt (2003-2006) and Iraq (2006-2007), Mr Kobler is part of a group of retired senior diplomats that has published op-eds urging Germany to support proposals such as those recently put forward by the European Commission to partially suspend Israel from the Horizon Europe research programme.
Reports also indicate that 130 German diplomats will meet Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul after calling internally for a tougher stance on Israel.
Applying pressure to Israel because it is committing an injustice should not be taboo, Mr Kobler and 12 other ex-ambassadors wrote in a public appeal published on July 23.
“We are for the security of Israel due to our history in Germany ... but what is happening today contravenes international law. That is also true of Hamas' actions,” Mr Kobler said.
Mr Kobler, who was also Germany's representative to the Palestinian territories in Jericho (1994-1997), highlighted the need for a balanced approach that upholds human rights while maintaining dialogue with Israel.
He echoed humanitarian groups' criticism of air drops to deliver aid, which are inefficient compared to trucks. "This is about being pro-human rights, pro-human dignity, pro-rules based international order - not pro-Israel or pro-Palestine," he said. "Israel is on the way to a pariah state with what it's doing. This is not good for the security of Israel."
The argument that protecting Palestinian rights is good for Israel's security was also put forward by French President Emmanuel Macron when he recently made the case for recognising a Palestinian state. He has since been joined by the UK and Canada. It is a position, however, that is rejected by Israeli leaders, who are now considering a military occupation in Gaza.
Shift in EU's position?
Germany's position has been closely scrutinised because it could significantly shift discussions at European Union level to sanction Israel. In June, an internal review by the European External Action Service found that Israel had breached a human rights clause enshrined in the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which governs relations between the two parties.
Yet discussions are moving too slowly, according to many countries. As a result, a flurry of national decisions have been taken. On Wednesday, Slovenia became the second EU state that said it would ban all imports from Palestinian occupied territories, a measure requested by the International Court of Justice last year. Alongside Slovenia, the Netherlands has banned two extremist Israeli cabinet members from its territory.
Germany, which is Israel's second-largest weapons exporter, has so far tried to engage with Israel in the hope that it would reverse course. A Foreign Office official told The National that Germany was examining the European Commission's proposal and “would participate constructively in the discussions in Brussels”.
On the plane back from his visit to Israel last week, Mr Wadephul made comments that stuck to the traditional German line on Israel, though he did use unusually strong language when he branded extremist Israeli settlers as “terrorists”, Mr Kobler said. Mr Wadephul also spoke at length about the role of the UN, apparently inspired by a French-Saudi two-state solution conference in New York last month.
Negotiated solution
Yet Germany has resisted France's calls to recognise Palestine together in September, in an effort to relaunch the peace process. Berlin's long-standing position has been that recognition must come at the end of a negotiated solution.
“It's high time to change Germany's position,” Mr Kobler said, arguing that dialogue with Israel has failed. “Did it prevent one settlement? Did it prevent settler violence? Did it prevent the way that the government is going towards annexation [in Gaza]?”
If adopted, the Commission's proposal would represent the first retaliatory sanction against Israel taken at EU level. Many countries, including the Netherlands, have been less ambiguous than Germany and said they would back it.
France, too, would support it, a French diplomat told The National, if Israel does not satisfy demands expressed by Paris in the past months. They include Israel suspending the work of the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, resuming tax transfers to the Palestinian Authority, and stopping the E1 settlement project in the West Bank.
It remains to be seen how Mr Merz reacts in the coming weeks. Polls show that Germans have an increasingly negative perception of Israel. Speaking this week, CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Rottgen said: “If Israel's policy doesn't change very quickly, Germany would also be forced to take concrete measures together with our partners.”
Siemtje Moeller, the SPD's deputy leader, returned from the trip to Israel with Mr Wadephul to Israel saying she was “unconvinced” by Israeli claims that starvation in the strip was Hamas' fault.
In a letter to SPD lawmakers sent on Monday and viewed by The National, Ms Moeller wrote that the Israeli government would not budge without pressure. “If such concrete improvements fail to materialise in the near future, there must be consequences,” she warned.
ASHES SCHEDULE
First Test
November 23-27 (The Gabba, Brisbane)
Second Test
December 2-6 (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
Third Test
December 14-18 (Waca Ground, Perth)
Fourth Test
December 26-30 (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne)
Fifth Test
January 4-8, 2018 (Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney)
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Directed by Sam Mendes
Starring Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays
4.5/5
Paris Can Wait
Dir: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard
Two stars
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Wimbledon order of play on Saturday, July 8
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Centre Court (4pm)
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Timea Bacsinszky (19)
Ernests Gulbis v Novak Djokovic (2)
Mischa Zverev (27) v Roger Federer (3)
Court 1 (4pm)
Milos Raonic (6) v Albert Ramos-Vinolas (25)
Anett Kontaveit v Caroline Wozniacki (5)
Dominic Thiem (8) v Jared Donaldson
Court 2 (2.30pm)
Sorana Cirstea v Garbine Muguruza (14)
To finish: Sam Querrey (24) leads Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 6-5
Angelique Kerber (1) v Shelby Rogers
Sebastian Ofner v Alexander Zverev (10)
Court 3 (2.30pm)
Grigor Dimitrov (13) v Dudi Sela
Alison Riske v Coco Vandeweghe (24)
David Ferrer v Tomas Berdych (11)
Court 12 (2.30pm)
Polona Hercog v Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Gael Monfils (15) v Adrian Mannarino
Court 18 (2.30pm)
Magdalena Rybarikova v Lesia Tsurenko
Petra Martic v Zarina Diyas
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine 2.4L four-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.4L/100km
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Huroob Ezterari
Director: Ahmed Moussa
Starring: Ahmed El Sakka, Amir Karara, Ghada Adel and Moustafa Mohammed
Three stars
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fasset%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammad%20Raafi%20Hossain%2C%20Daniel%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.45%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2086%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-series%20B%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Investcorp%2C%20Liberty%20City%20Ventures%2C%20Fatima%20Gobi%20Ventures%2C%20Primal%20Capital%2C%20Wealthwell%20Ventures%2C%20FHS%20Capital%2C%20VN2%20Capital%2C%20local%20family%20offices%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
The biog
Name: Capt Shadia Khasif
Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police
Family: Five sons and three daughters
The first female investigator in Hatta.
Role Model: Father
She believes that there is a solution to every problem
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
'The Ice Road'
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Stars: Liam Neeson, Amber Midthunder, Laurence Fishburne
2/5
RIDE%20ON
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Larry%20Yang%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Jackie%20Chan%2C%20Liu%20Haocun%2C%20Kevin%20Guo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
