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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is because of journey to Madrid on Thursday for his inaugural go to to debate cooperation between the 2 international locations, European political points and safety coverage with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Though the relations between Germany and Spain are typically thought-about good, there are important variations on one explicit situation – their stance on Israel.
Whereas Merz, like Sánchez, sharply criticizes the Israeli army operation within the Gaza Strip, Germany has thus far rejected imposing sanctions on Israel, other than proscribing arms exports.
In distinction, Spain took concrete measures early within the Gaza battle. In 2024, it grew to become the primary EU member to hitch South Africa’s genocide lawsuit in opposition to Israel on the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ).
Firstly of September, Sánchez introduced an entire arms embargo and a journey ban “for all these people straight concerned within the genocide, human rights violations and warfare crimes in Gaza.”
On Wednesday, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen clarified her proposals for sanctions focusing on Israel.
Free commerce advantages must be revoked, and punitive measures must be taken in opposition to extremist Israeli ministers and settlers, von der Leyen mentioned.
From the European Fee’s perspective, the nation is violating human rights and worldwide humanitarian legislation with its army offensive and the ensuing humanitarian disaster.
Merz has not but taken a place on the proposals.
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