In public opinion polls, Israelis consistently rank Germany as the second or third friendliest country to Israel, following the US and sometimes Britain. However, this isn’t the case regarding the German public’s position toward Israel—it’s been moving for years between disinterest and criticism (if not outright negativity), with the exception of a few isolated events, such as October 7th, when the German public expressed solidarity with Israel.
As October 7th becomes a “historic” date, and as the reports and images of destruction in Gaza and the high number of casualties, the criticism of Israel’s conduct, often viewed as “disproportionate,” has increased. Adding to this are reports of the humanitarian crisis and statements by political figures about Israel’s future plans for Gaza and the territories, all of which negatively affect German public opinion.
For example, recent surveys show that the majority of the German public believes that Israel is “going too far” in its actions in Gaza. In a survey published a few days ago, 70% of respondents oppose providing military aid to Israel. Notably, 64% believe that Germany should serve as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, and 56% believe that Germany should not intervene in the war altogether.
Is this opposition to providing military aid consistent with the Israeli public’s perception of Germany as a friendly country to Israel? The gap between the German public’s stance and its government’s position is striking. It was the outgoing coalition that reaffirmed in its coalition agreement and various statements made by its representatives (led by the chancellor) that Israel’s security is a fundamental part of German “state wisdom.” Following October 7th, Germany reiterated its support for Israel’s right to self-defense, backing it with ongoing military aid (a commitment that the chancellor emphasized a few weeks ago in a speech to the Bundestag). However, Germany’s foreign minister has not hesitated to criticize Israel’s role in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and its actions in the territories, even deciding to take measures against settlers. In conclusion, a growing gap between the German public’s position and the political elite could ultimately force Germany to retreat from its principled support for Israel. Needless to say, Israel’s policies will have a decisive influence on Germany’s position.
In public opinion polls, Israelis consistently rank Germany as the second or third friendliest country to Israel, following the US and sometimes Britain. However, this isn’t the case regarding the German public’s position toward Israel—it’s been moving for years between disinterest and criticism (if not outright negativity), with the exception of a few isolated events, such as October 7th, when the German public expressed solidarity with Israel.
As October 7th becomes a “historic” date, and as the reports and images of destruction in Gaza and the high number of casualties, the criticism of Israel’s conduct, often viewed as “disproportionate,” has increased. Adding to this are reports of the humanitarian crisis and statements by political figures about Israel’s future plans for Gaza and the territories, all of which negatively affect German public opinion.
For example, recent surveys show that the majority of the German public believes that Israel is “going too far” in its actions in Gaza. In a survey published a few days ago, 70% of respondents oppose providing military aid to Israel. Notably, 64% believe that Germany should serve as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, and 56% believe that Germany should not intervene in the war altogether.
Is this opposition to providing military aid consistent with the Israeli public’s perception of Germany as a friendly country to Israel? The gap between the German public’s stance and its government’s position is striking. It was the outgoing coalition that reaffirmed in its coalition agreement and various statements made by its representatives (led by the chancellor) that Israel’s security is a fundamental part of German “state wisdom.” Following October 7th, Germany reiterated its support for Israel’s right to self-defense, backing it with ongoing military aid (a commitment that the chancellor emphasized a few weeks ago in a speech to the Bundestag). However, Germany’s foreign minister has not hesitated to criticize Israel’s role in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and its actions in the territories, even deciding to take measures against settlers. In conclusion, a growing gap between the German public’s position and the political elite could ultimately force Germany to retreat from its principled support for Israel. Needless to say, Israel’s policies will have a decisive influence on Germany’s position.