- Some German authorities believe that ‘if you are against Israeli war crimes, then you must be automatically pro-Hamas,’ which is ‘completely delusional, completely stupid,’ says foreign policy analyst Marcus Schneider
- Middle East scholar Philip Holzapfel warns that Germany’s stance puts it at risk of facing accusations of aiding and abetting genocide in Gaza
- Political analyst Daniel Gerlach says the ‘reason of state’ doctrine used to justify Berlin’s blanket support to Israel is a failed policy
BERLIN
A growing bloc of intellectuals, legal scholars, and foreign policy experts are calling on Germany’s government to end its policy of “blind loyalty” to Israel and the repression of pro-Palestine voices in the country.
Nearly 200 academics and analysts have signed a new policy paper urging a complete overhaul of Germany’s pro-Israel stance, calling for decisions rooted in international law rather than historical guilt.
Among them, Middle East scholar Philip Holzapfel warned that the government’s stance puts Germany at risk of facing accusations of aiding and abetting genocide in Gaza.
“As experts, we have tried to formulate a new policy, because this is urgently necessary for Germany, for German historical responsibility, but also for the region especially, and to end the genocide in Gaza,” he told Anadolu.
Holzapfel emphasized that under the German Constitution, international law – including the UN Charter and the Genocide Convention – takes precedence over domestic legislation and must be enforced without exceptions.
“There is an obligation under the Arms Trade Treaty, and under international law in general, to not provide arms in a situation like we have in Gaza,” he said. “So, it’s a legal obligation to stop all arms exports immediately, including ongoing contracts.”
Holzapfel also criticized the German government for using the notion of historical responsibility to justify continued arms exports to Israel, stressing that responsibility toward Jewish people does not require unconditional support for the current Israeli government’s war crimes.
Critics say Germany’s foreign policy stance has been mirrored by a domestic campaign to silence pro-Palestinian voices. Over the past two years, authorities have banned hundreds of rallies, canceled cultural events and academic panels, and denied visas to prominent international speakers critical of Israel.
“What we have clearly seen is a criminalization of pro-Palestinian activism,” foreign policy analyst Marcus Schneider told Anadolu.
He said many authorities, politicians, and police routinely conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism or support for terrorism. “In their eyes, if you are against Israeli war crimes, then you must be automatically pro-Hamas,” Schneider said.
“I think this is completely delusional, completely stupid.”
Despite efforts to silence pro-Palestinian voices, there have been hundreds of demonstrations over the past two years in Berlin alone, including massive rallies that drew tens of thousands of people.
German police have frequently employed aggressive tactics and excessive force – often caught on videos viral on social media – injuring many and prompting criticism from both international human rights organizations and the Council of Europe.
In the latest such high-profile incident, Left Party lawmaker Lea Reisner was punched by a police officer at a pro-Palestine demonstration in Berlin this week.
Overall, Berlin police have opened more than 6,000 criminal investigations against activists since October 2023, alleging use of antisemitic slogans or expressions of support for banned organizations.
However, courts dismissed most cases due to insufficient evidence, with judges ruling that many of the alleged offenses, including expressions of support for Palestine, do not constitute criminal acts.
“The politics tried to silence these people, to push them out of the debate, to show them as illegitimate voices,” Schneider said.
“It’s not only the government. It’s basically the German political elites and also the media.”
Rethinking ‘reason of state’
Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a staunch ally of Israel, has repeatedly emphasized Germany’s historical responsibility for Israel’s security, rooted in its Nazi past and the Holocaust.
He has insisted that this commitment constitutes part of Germany's “staatsraeson,” or reason of state. Merz has rejected calls for a total arms embargo on Israel and blocked proposed EU measures, including sanctions on far-right Israeli ministers and suspension of the EU-Israel trade agreement.
Political analyst Daniel Gerlach calls the “staatsraeson” doctrine a failed policy that is not helping peace efforts.
“The concept of reason of state, as being used in Germany, is quite misleading in the way it’s being implemented and interpreted,” he told Anadolu. “It creates a lot of misunderstanding and discontent. That’s why we recommend abolishing it.”
Gerlach and co-signatories of the new policy paper argue that Germany’s post-Holocaust responsibility should not translate into uncritical support for Israel’s government.
While Berlin clings to its hard-line stance, public sentiment appears to be moving in the opposite direction. Recent surveys show a majority of Germans reject the idea that their country bears special responsibility for Israel’s protection.
A 2025 survey by public broadcaster ARD found 62% disagree with that notion, while only 31% still support it. Another poll showed 63% of Germans oppose Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, and 55% want the Merz government to join other EU nations in imposing sanctions.
Additionally, a YouGov survey found that 62% of respondents describe Israel’s campaign in Gaza as “genocide.” Despite government resistance, 44% now support recognition of a Palestinian state – up steadily from 40% a year earlier. Only 23% opposed recognition, while 33% remained undecided.
“Germany cannot stand idle and let chaos and havoc reign in the Middle East, when it claims it has a historical responsibility for the safety of the Jewish people,” said Gerlach. “The current situation affects the safety of Jewish people not only in Israel, but also increasingly in Europe and other places.”
He added: “If you want to effectively fight antisemitism and protect Jewish people, you need a smart and principled foreign policy for a just solution in the Middle East.”
The experts’ policy paper calls for Germany to impose an immediate and comprehensive ban on all weapons exports to Israel, recognize the state of Palestine without delay, and champion EU-led diplomacy.
“Germany should engage more for peace, justice, security, and for a two-state solution,” Gerlach said. “At the moment, it’s not using the most powerful instrument it has – the EU.”
