Germany has stopped approving war weapons exports to Israel: Report
Al JazeeraSep 18
German Economy Ministry Denies Ban on Arms Exports to Israel
Above: Soldiers on a "Panzerhaubitze 2000" self-propelled howitzer of the German armed forces Bundeswehr drive through the mud during the informative educational practice "Land Operation Exercise 2017" at the military training area in Munster, northern Germany. Image copyright: Patrik Stollarz/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Germany has reportedly stopped approving export licenses for weapons to Israel amid internal legal challenges. However, Germany's Economy Ministry said on Thursday that there was no ban on arms exports to Israel in place, nor would there be one.
According to the Reuters report, a senior government official said that legal and political challenges, which argued that such exports from Germany violated humanitarian law, had halted the approval of export licenses for arms to Israel.
The Spin
Pro-Palestine narrative
Though it is a positive step that Western countries are beginning to limit arms exports to Israel, it is not nearly enough. Israel is engaged in a genocidal campaign in Gaza, and more measures must be put in place to dissuade such rogue behavior. Nonetheless, such actions by Western nations demonstrate Israel's increasing isolation on the world stage in the wake of its crimes in Gaza.
Pro-Israel narrative
It is certainly both unsettling and unfortunate that some countries have decided to pressure Israel as opposed to its terrorist enemies. However, Israel is more than able to continue fighting with limited support. Indeed, Israel is already working toward the continued development of its domestic arms industry and is well-equipped to deal with Hamas and Hezbollah's terror tactics. Ultimately, reports of limiting arms exports to Israel are overblown.