Apathy and intrigue in Iran over Israeli election
After two conflicts in as many years between Israel and Iran , and signs of more war to come, Iranians watched Israel’s elections with a mixture of trepidation, scrutiny and apathy. “I am wondering why, as an Iranian, I should care about other countries’ elections more than our own,” one man who opposes the Tehran government and now lives outside the country told The National. Some in the nation…
As of two days following Israel's recent parliamentary elections, German officials remain cautious in their response due to the uncertainty surrounding the formation of a new government. Right-wing parties, led by incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and including religious hardliners, currently lead the polls, while the opposition, headed by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, trails behind.
Neither party has demonstrated a clear path to securing a majority in the Knesset, making coalition government formation a complex endeavor.
Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, while declining to comment at the Wednesday press conference in Berlin, affirmed that Germany has been in touch with officials and politicians in Israel through his country's ambassador. He emphasized Germany's commitment to working with any future Israeli government, acknowledging the historical ties between the two nations and their shared responsibility for the fate of European Jews under Nazi rule.
One concern for the German government is the potential delay in providing aid to Gaza, with protracted coalition negotiations posing a risk to timely progress. Winter is approaching, and Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan, currently in Lebanon, warned that urgent assistance to Gaza must not wait for coalition negotiations to conclude.
She expressed concern over the increasing violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, calling for an end to illegal settlement activities, which are deemed unlawful under international law.
Relations between Germany and Israel have historically been strong, often attributed to Germany's historical responsibility for the Holocaust. However, the German government has distanced itself from Netanyahu's policies in recent times, particularly in its public statements. Wadephul recently criticized Netanyahu's post-military operation near Hebron, stating that Israel is obligated to uphold and protect Palestinian rights under international law.
While there has been speculation about a potential shift in Germany's stance towards Israel following the election, German officials have maintained their support for the country. They hope the future government will avoid including religious extremist or far-right politicians, such as current Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. German foreign policy experts believe a more centrist government would be preferable.
The election results saw significant gains for Arab-majority parties, who are typically considered part of the current opposition. These parties might play a crucial role in coalition formation, despite Netanyahu's bloc and various parties rejecting cooperation with them. Eisenkot's bloc has not indicated willingness to form a coalition with Arab-majority parties, but one, the United Arab List, has expressed openness to working with Eisenkot's bloc to remove Netanyahu from power.
Former CDU foreign policy expert Jürgen Hardt suggested a minority government led by Eisenkot, supported by Arab-Israeli parties, could be conceivable.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
