German FM Baerbock may face criminal charges for blocking arms supplies to Israel

Wolfgang Kubicki, Deputy Speaker of the German Bundestag and a member of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), has issued a stern warning to Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her diplomats.

Kubicki stated that they could face criminal charges for obstructing arms deliveries to Israel, Caliber.Az reports referring to Bild.

According to the newspaper’s investigation, Baerbock and Economy Minister Robert Habeck, both members of the Alliance 90/The Greens party, have been blocking arms supplies to Israel since March.

Kubicki has demanded an explanation from Baerbock and Habeck regarding the validity of the Bild report.

“I expect their resignation if the report proves to be true. If they refuse to step down, I will no longer be able to support this coalition with a clear conscience,” Kubicki said, calling for criminal lawyers to be sent to the Foreign Ministry to hold the diplomats accountable.

Notably, senior German government ministers have been blocking arms sales to Israel for the past seven months, amid calls for assurances from Tel Aviv that the weapons will not be used to commit war crimes or genocidal acts, according to reports.

German newspapers Bild and the American outlet Politico revealed that Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock have delayed approving arms exports to Israel. They are seeking guarantees that German arms will not be used by Israeli forces to carry out atrocities against Palestinians.

The refusals were made within Germany's Federal Security Council, a body of senior ministers that oversees arms export decisions. Habeck and Baerbock, both members of the Green Party, form part of the governing coalition led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Despite these concerns, approved arms exports from Germany to Israel totalled €14.5 million between January and 21 August this year, although only two per cent were classified as combat weapons. The rest included non-lethal military equipment such as helmets, protective vests, and communication gear.

By Aghakazim Guliyev