INTERVIEW: We can have it both ways on Israel and Gaza, leader of German Greens says

The German Greens believe they can reconcile backing Israel with calling for a partial embargo on weapon deliveries and a ceasefire in Gaza, their co-chair, Felix Banaszak, told Euractiv. 

“It is not a paradox to defend Israel’s right to defend itself and also call for a ceasefire and a partial embargo in Gaza,” he said. “I think differentiation is not a mistake, it is a strength.” 

It is a fine line to walk for the German Greens, the most powerful European Green party – if not an outright threat to their deteriorating political standing. 

The party wants to remain a "responsible," centrist force, even as voters pushed them into opposition in the national election in February, Banaszak said. Backing Israel – and avoiding an overtly critical stance – remains a cornerstone of Germany’s centrist parties, rooted in the country’s historical responsibility for the Holocaust. 

While the public opinion in Germany over Israel’s military response in Gaza following Hamas’ 7 October attack has shifted, harsher measures such as calling for a weapons embargo are largely taboo.

More than other parties, the Greens have to thread the needle on their Gaza stance. They also see themselves as supporting marginalised Muslim and migrant communities, parts of which feel alienated over the strong pro-Israeli leaning of the public debate. 

In the national election, 29% of German Muslims voted for the socialist Left party, which called for a full weapons embargo on Israel. The Greens received just 4% of the Muslim vote (11% overall), according to data from pollster Forschungsgruppe Wahlen.

Embargo or no embargo

“We don’t have much tailwind at the moment,” said Banaszak, adding that Green and progressive movements were “on the defence” all over Europe.  

In this situation, the fading popularity among parts of the migrant community is not helpful. 

In May, the Greens settled on the compromise formula on Gaza, that “there must be an embargo on weapons that can and will be deployed in Gaza,” said Banaszak.  

“But it is necessary that Israel is able to defend itself against the attacks by the Iranian regime and its proxies in the region,” he added. 

A case in point is the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. 

Here again, Banaszak has taken a cautious stance, reaffirming Israel’s right to self-defence and noting that Iran’s nuclear proliferation “threatens the existence and security" of the country.

But, he added, "long-term containment of Iran’s nuclear program can only be achieved by diplomatic means." 

Compromise in Brussels

On the question of Israel, "Germany, Austria and the Baltics have a different starting point than the rest of the group," a source within the Green group said.

The impasse, however, is supposed to come to an end soon. Several sources confirmed to Euractiv that an internal task force of the Greens group in the European Parliament had updated a resource paper on the Middle East, containing a compromise position on Gaza.

It is expected to argue that there is increasing evidence of a genocide in Gaza and call for an embargo on weapons exports to Israel, bar those used for air defence. The Greens would also ask member states to recognise Palestinian statehood and for the EU to suspend its association agreement with Israel.

While it is still a stretch for the Germans that exposes them to domestic criticism, there are hopes that a joint policy will simplify Green communication on the Middle East in Brussels. The paper is expected to pass on Wednesday.

The compromise also aligns with what peers from other groups perceive as a shift towards pragmatism among Europe's Greens.

"The Greens are more responsible than in the last mandate – even more so than the S&D," a source close to the liberal Renew Europe group said. "There are fewer radicals in the group."

Banaszak, who belongs to the left wing of the German Greens, says the party ultimately has more to gain from shifting its focus towards a more vocal, activist attitude on climate policy.

“Greens are most powerful when they coordinate closely with social and ecologist movements,” he said. 

“Now, there are other issues, of course. All these crises that we are facing have an impact on people's priorities. But Green parties must continue to talk about green politics especially when other people don’t.” 

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This article has been updated to clarify that the compromise aligns with what peers from other groups perceive as a shift towards pragmatism among Europe's Greens.