Chancellor Merz says Germany opposes broad sanctions on Israel

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that Berlin opposes imposing comprehensive sanctions on Israel and will not join sanctions regimes targeting the country as a whole.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Dublin, Merz said products originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank should not benefit from Israel's trade preferences, Caliber.Az reports, citing Phoenix.

"First of all, I would like to say that products and goods from the occupied territories in the West Bank are, quite rightly, not covered by Israel's trade preferences. I support the European Commission in consistently applying this rule. That is what our attention should be focused on now," Merz noted.

At the same time, the German chancellor stressed that Berlin is watching the Israeli government's settlement activities in the West Bank "with great concern."

According to Merz, he has repeatedly conveyed this position to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including during private conversations.

"However, we do not believe it is right to impose comprehensive sanctions against Israel," Merz added.

Merz further stated that he regularly reminds European leaders that "Germany bears a special responsibility toward the State of Israel."

"That is why we cannot and do not want to join sanctions regimes against Israel as a whole. And this position will remain unchanged, at least for the foreseeable future," he concluded.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov