German Foreign Minister Jochen B. Triggers Coalition Split Over Israel Sanctions

German Foreign Minister Jochen B. rejected the possibility of European Union sanctions against Israel for its settlement policy in the West Bank. His stance sparked sharp criticism from senior figures in the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which is part of the governing coalition.

SPD foreign‑policy spokesperson Ralf Stegner told Der Spiegel that B.’s position lacks sufficient support within his own party and urged a revision that would serve Germany’s interests, stressing that criticism of violations of international law is not anti‑Israeli. SPD parliamentary group member Antis Achmetović also called on the minister to change his approach, warning that Germany cannot remain silent in the face of what he described as “gross violations of international law” by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

SPD MP Matzit Karachmetoglou warned that the gradual annexation of the West Bank creates new facts on the ground that undermine a two‑state solution and could lead to Israel’s long‑term international isolation.