German public turns sharply against Israel: Poll
Berlin has suspended select arms exports to Israel
that could be used in Gaza until further notice amid public outrage
AUG 9, 2025
https://thecradle.co/articles/german-public-turns-sharply-against-israel-poll
A poll conducted by Deutschland Trend for ARD
television shows that 66 percent of Germans want their government to apply
greater pressure on Israel to halt its ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip.
The results came the same week German Chancellor
Friedrich Merz announced a halt to the export of any military equipment to
Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip, effective until further notice.
The decision reportedly came in response to the
outrage of the German people and global political condemnation received by
Israel’s allies, especially the recent announcement of a plan by Israeli forces
to fully occupy Gaza City.
The desire for more pressure to be applied on Israel
to end its genocide has been on an upward trend since last year, when a Forsa
Institute poll showed 57 percent of participants wanted greater pressure on
Israel.
The Deutschland Trend poll also showed 47 percent of
Germans believe their government is not doing enough for Palestinians.
Only 31 percent said Germany has a special
responsibility toward Israel due to historic events - namely Germany's role in
the Holocaust - while 62 percent disagreed.
The recent decision by Merz to halt arms transfers to
Israel was described by Muriel Asborg, a researcher at the German Institute for
International and Security Affairs, as a “warning shot” that does not mark a
fundamental shift in policy.
She noted that Berlin continues to resist stronger
measures urged by some European states and by members of the ruling coalition,
including the Social Democratic Party, which has called for broader sanctions against Israel.
The contrast in Germany’s outlook towards Israel is
also reflected in the media.
Der Spiegel accused Israel of violating international
humanitarian law and condemning Berlin’s complicity in the onslaught against
Gaza.
On the other hand, right-wing Bild has defended Israel’s actions, and even denied that a famine
was happening in Gaza, and attacked Merz over the arms export halt.
Analysts link Berlin’s unwillingness to adopt a
harsher stance to political, economic, and security considerations beyond
historical factors, citing its close alignment with Tel Aviv and Washington,
its role as Israel’s second-largest arms supplier, and its dependence on
Israeli weapons systems such as the Arrow-3.
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