Latest news with #ThorstenFrei
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
German government denies rift over Israel's conduct in Gaza
This is an AI- generated image used for representational purposes only German Chancellery Minister Thorsten Frei on Wednesday dismissed concerns of a rift within Germany's coalition government over its position on Israel. An apparent split emerged after Germany opted not to join dozens of Western countries in signing a condemnation of the "inhumane killing" of Palestinian civilians in Gaza on Monday. What has Berlin said about the Gaza letter? Frei, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's top aide, said the coalition was united in its aims regarding Gaza, even if there were divisions over how Germany could achieve them. "There's not even a sheet of paper between the partners," Frei told German broadcaster ZDF. "Of course, you can have different views about the form and the path to a shared goal." On Tuesday, leading figures in the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), the junior coalition partner to Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU), urged the government to join a joint declaration signed by 28 states, including France, Italy and the UK, as well as the European Commission, the European Union's executive branch. It called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and condemned Israel's actions. Germany has so far declined to sign on to the declaration. However, Frei defended the government's stance, saying the declaration lacked clarity in its sequencing of events. "It must be made clear that the starting point of this war was Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, and that Hamas continues to hold hostages," he said. He added that Germany maintains "many channels of contact" with the Israeli government. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Swelling and internal bleeding in the brain, help this baby Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Frei emphasized that "the humanitarian situation in Gaza must change," and while Israel has the right to self-defense, protecting civilians is "a legal imperative under international law." What did the SPD say about the declaration? Matthias Miersch, the SPD's parliamentary leader, praised the signatory states, including Germany's "closest partners such as France, Canada and Austria," for sending "a clear signal." The countries involved condemned what they called the "drip feeding of aid" to Palestinians in Gaza and said it was "horrifying" that more than 800 civilians had been killed while seeking food and water. "If international law is systematically violated, there must be consequences," Miersch wrote on the platform X. "Germany should join the UK's initiative and not opt out here." "Starving children, destroyed infrastructure, attacks on people seeking help: That goes against everything that international humanitarian law protects," the senior SPD politician said. Reem Alabali Radovan, Germany's international development minister and an SPD member, said Tuesday she was disappointed by the decision. "The demands in the letter from the 29 partners to the Israeli government are understandable to me. I would have wished for Germany to join the signal sent by the 29 partners," she said. SPD foreign policy spokesperson Adis Ahmetovic and rapporteur for the Middle East Rolf Mützenich, both senior lawmakers within the party, also called on Germany to join the declaration. They stressed in a joint statement that "the situation in Gaza is catastrophic and represents a humanitarian abyss." How has Merz defined his position? German officials have said their stance on Israel is shaped by a unique responsibility, the Staatsraison (reason of state), rooted in the country's Nazi-era history and the Holocaust. They argued they can accomplish more through private diplomatic channels than with public declarations. Merz has said the European Council, the heads of state or government of the European Union, had already issued a joint declaration "practically identical in content to what is expressed in the letter" now circulating. He pointed to the Council's June statement, which deplored the humanitarian crisis in Gaza but was less emotional and bluntly critical of Israel and did not condemn its planned relocation of Palestinians to a so-called "humanitarian city" unveiled earlier this month. "I was one of the first to say very clearly, even in Germany, that the situation there is no longer acceptable," Merz said, pushing back on claims of any split. On Monday, he said he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, telling him "very clearly and very explicitly that we do not share the Israeli government's policy on Gaza." "The way the Israeli army is operating there is not acceptable," Merz said. Fractures within the ruling coalition, only in power since May, were already exposed over a dispute about the appointment of a Constitutional Court judge.
DW
2 days ago
- Politics
- DW
German government denies rift over Israel's conduct in Gaza – DW – 07/23/2025
The German chancellery insists that the ruling coalition is united in its stance on Israel's actions in Gaza despite differing views. A split appeared after Germany refused to add its name to a 28-country declaration. German Chancellery Minister Thorsten Frei on Wednesday dismissed concerns of a rift within Germany's coalition government over its position on Israel. A split emerged after Germany opted not to join dozens of Western countries in signing a condemnation of the "inhumane killing" of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Frei, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's top aid, said the coalition was united in its aims regarding Gaza, even if there were divisions over how Germany could achieve them. "There's not even a sheet of paper between the partners," Frei told German broadcaster ZDF. "Of course, you can have different views about the form and the path to a shared goal." On Tuesday, leading figures in the Social Democrats (SPD), the junior coalition partner to Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU), urged the government to join a joint declaration signed by 28 states, including France, Italy and the UK, as well as the European Commission, the European Union's executive branch. It called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and condemned Israel's actions. Germany has so far declined to sign on to the declaration. However, Frei defended the government's stance, saying the declaration lacked clarity in its sequencing of events. "It must be made clear that the starting point of this war was Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, and that Hamas continues to hold hostages," he said. He added that Germany maintains "many channels of contact" with the Israeli government. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Frei emphasized that "the humanitarian situation in Gaza must change," and while Israel has the right to self-defense, protecting civilians is "a legal imperative under international law." Matthias Miersch, the SPD's parliamentary leader, praised the signatory states, including Germany's "closest partners such as France, Canada and Austria," for sending "a clear signal." The countries involved condemned what they called the "drip feeding of aid" to Palestinians in Gaza and said it was "horrifying" that more than 800 civilians had been killed while seeking food and water. "If international law is systematically violated, there must be consequences," Miersch wrote on the platform X. "Germany should join the UK's initiative and not opt out here." "Starving children, destroyed infrastructure, attacks on people seeking help: That goes against everything that international humanitarian law protects," the senior SPD politician said. Reem Alabali-Radovan, Germany's international development minister and an SPD member, said Tuesday she was disappointed by the decision. "The demands in the letter from the 29 partners to the Israeli government are understandable to me. I would have wished for Germany to join the signal sent by the 29 partners," she said. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video SPD foreign policy spokesperson Adis Ahmetovic and rapporteur for the Middle East Rolf Mützenich, both senior lawmakers within the party, also called on Germany to join the declaration. They stressed in a joint statement that "the situation in Gaza is catastrophic and represents a humanitarian abyss." German officials have said their stance on Israel is shaped by a unique responsibility, the Staatsraison (reason of state), rooted in the country's Nazi-era history and the Holocaust. They argued they can accomplish more through private diplomatic channels than with public declarations. Merz has said the European Council, the heads of state or government of the European Union, had already issued a joint declaration "practically identical in content to what is expressed in the letter" now circulating. He pointed to the Council's June statement, which deplored the humanitarian crisis in Gaza but was less emotional and bluntly critical of Israel and did not condemn its planned relocation of Palestinians to a so-called "humanitarian city" unveiled earlier this month. "I was one of the first to say very clearly, even in Germany, that the situation there is no longer acceptable," Merz said, pushing back on claims of any split. On Monday, he said he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, telling him "very clearly and very explicitly that we do not share the Israeli government's policy on Gaza." "The way the Israeli army is operating there is not acceptable," Merz said. Fractures within the ruling coalition, only in power since May, were already exposed over a dispute about the appointment of a Constitutional Court judge.
Local Germany
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Local Germany
Survey shows majority of Germans in favour of return to conscription
A total of 54 percent of those polled by research institute YouGov for the German Press Agency (DPA) advocated for reinstating compulsory military service in Germany. Thirty-six percent support conscription for both men and women, while 18 percent thought that only men should be called up, as was the case in the past. Only 40 percent of the 2,212 responders believed that military service should remain voluntary. Six percent did not provide an answer. READ ALSO: German military sees Russia as 'existential risk' to Germany and Europe: report Compulsory military service in Germany was suspended after 55 years in 2011 by the then CDU/CSU and FDP coalition government because the "permanently changed security and defence policy situation" at that time could no longer justify the encroachment on people's fundamental rights. However, in light of the growing threat from Russia, conscription is once again a hot topic. Conscription for men is still enshrined in the country's basic law ( Grundgesetz ), but for this to be extended to women by way of an amendment, a two-thirds majority would be needed. This means the CDU-SPD coalition would need the approval of the Greens and the Left Party. However, the Left Party is fundamentally opposed to conscription. READ ALSO: German army struggles for fresh recruits as conscription threat grows Sixty-eight percent of CDU and CSU voters are in favour of reintroducing conscription, according to a YouGov survey. Among SPD voters, it's 64 percent, 55 percent of AfD supporters and 51 percent of Green Party voters. But a majority of Left Party voters oppose compulsory military service – 69 percent support maintaining voluntary military service. Perhaps unsurprisingly, older people are more likely to be in favour of conscription, the survey results showed. Advertisement Only one in three (35 percent) in the 18-29 age group support it, but two-thirds of respondents over 70 (66 percent) are in favour. In their coalition agreement, the CDU and SPD agreed on military service "that is initially based on voluntary service." But defence minister Boris Pistorius later stated that the Bundeswehr needed to be expanded by 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers to meet the growing threat from Russia. Currently, there are just over 180,000. READ ALSO: Germany 'has three years' to overhaul military The CDU/CSU is now pushing for its coalition partner, the SPD, to make a quick decision on whether this troop strength can be achieved through voluntary military service alone. "We don't have time to wait until doomsday," said Chancellor's Office Chief Thorsten Frei in an interview with the German Press Agency. The CDU-SPD coalition must make a clear agreement "on when we need to change our strategy so that we can achieve the goal that everyone recognises as necessary."
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Germany urges closer look at confiscating Russian assets for Ukraine
Thorsten Frei, Head of the German Chancellery, has called for renewed discussions in the West on confiscating frozen Russian state assets, citing Russia's refusal to pursue peace with Ukraine. Source: Thorsten Frei in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, as reported by European Pravda Details: Frei argued that "a sense of justice" supports confiscating Russian assets frozen in the West, given "the enormous damage and human suffering that Russia inflicts on Ukraine". Quote from Frei: "We are now experiencing the heaviest bombing since the start of the war. Therefore, it is fair that Russian funds be used for necessary defence measures." Frei acknowledged concerns that confiscation could deter foreign investment in the EU or Germany. Quote from Frei: "You cannot make an unambiguous decision. But we are in a situation where I say: we must consider the issue of Russian state funds even more carefully than before. We cannot allow Russia to play games with us all." Read also: Compensation not for Ukraine. Why confiscated Russian assets may never reach Kyiv In 2022, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the US and its allies froze approximately US$300 billion in Russian state assets. European leaders aim to use these assets to support Ukraine's reconstruction but have yet to agree on a legally sound method to avoid setting a problematic international precedent. Background: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has previously stated he supports confiscating these assets, provided it can be done legally. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Using Russian assets for Ukraine aid needs 'closer look,' German official says
A German official has called on the European Union to take a "closer look" at the issue of frozen Russian assets and using them to support Ukraine, stressing the need to take a harder stance against the Kremlin. Thorsten Frei, Head of the German Chancellery, stated in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung on May 31 that the EU should "take a much closer look at the issue of Russian state funds than we have so far." He also urged the EU to take a more assertive position against Moscow, adding that "we must not allow the game that Russia is playing with us to go unchallenged." The question of frozen Russian assets, and what to do with them, has been discussed by the EU and other Western countries since the start of the full-scale invasion. Recently, the Group of Seven – including Germany – pledged to keep Russian assets frozen until the end of the war. Frei's comments suggest that Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz may be open to the idea of seizing the approximately €200 billion ($227 billion) in Russian state assets in the EU. Frei also mentioned the 18th package of EU sanctions currently under preparation, citing them as an example of tougher measures against Russia. According to Frei, the upcoming sanctions are a response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's refusal to comply with demands for a ceasefire. "Measures are being prepared that are tougher than before, and which some European states have therefore shied away from so far," Frei said, stressing that the sanctions package will have "far-reaching punitive measures." Frei added that the sanctions package will target Russia's shadow fleet, energy sector, financial sector, and Nord Stream pipelines. "If you want to achieve a ceasefire by peaceful means, then your tools are limited," Frei said. "That is why I am very much in favor of using the tools at your disposal." Read also: Senate to 'start moving' Russia sanctions bill next week, Graham says We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
