Key facts
- German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil urged the EU to consider sanctions against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
- Ben-Gvir advocated for nightly targeted killings in Gaza, suggesting '30, 40 people' should be killed each night.
- Several German political parties, including the CDU/CSU, Social Democrats, The Left, and AfD, have condemned Ben-Gvir's remarks and called for sanctions.
- EU sanctions require unanimous agreement among member states, giving Germany significant influence.
- German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is set to meet EU counterparts on September 1 and 2.
German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has called on the European Union to seriously consider imposing sanctions on Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir following his remarks advocating for nightly killings in Gaza. Klingbeil described Ben-Gvir's statements as 'dehumanizing' and stated that European governments must examine possible sanctions 'very seriously.'
Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, proposed in a podcast that '30, 40 people' should be killed each night in Gaza, adding that some individuals 'are not worthy of life.' Klingbeil, who is also a co-leader of Germany’s Social Democratic Party, expressed solidarity with Israel but not with ministers like Ben-Gvir, accusing far-right Israeli politicians of 'playing with fire' and stating Ben-Gvir had crossed a line.
Across the German political spectrum, lawmakers have condemned Ben-Gvir's remarks. Jürgen Hardt, foreign policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, called the comments 'inhumane' and urged EU sanctions to uphold human dignity. Adis Ahmetović, foreign policy spokesperson for the Social Democrats, echoed calls for sanctions against Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Dietmar Bartsch of The Left and Markus Frohnmaier of the AfD also called for sanctions or entry bans, while Green MP Marlene Schönberger labeled Ben-Gvir a 'far-right extremist.'
This stance marks a potential shift for Berlin, which has historically opposed EU measures targeting Israel, including previous proposals for sanctions on Ben-Gvir and restrictions on trade with West Bank settlements. EU sanctions require unanimous consent from all member states, granting Germany considerable influence. However, the German government has not yet officially endorsed these calls, with the Foreign Ministry declining to comment. Some government officials reportedly fear that sanctioning Ben-Gvir before Israel's election could inadvertently benefit him. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is scheduled to meet with EU counterparts on September 1 and 2, where Ben-Gvir's remarks and the conflict in Gaza are expected to be key discussion points.