Chancellor Friedrich Merz has disclosed that Germany would not join Western nations in recognizing Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) in New York next month.
Merz said at a press conference in Berlin alongside Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, “The position of the federal government is clear, as far as the possible recognition of the state is concerned… We will not join this initiative.” He added, “We don’t see the requirements met.”
Germany considers the recognition of a Palestinian state to be among the final steps in a two-state solution in which Israelis and Palestinians can live peacefully side by side.
Although Merz confirmed that Germany will not change its position on Palestinian statehood, the Chancellor has taken measures against Israel in recent weeks, in a sign of growing tensions between Israel and one of its staunchest allies.
Due to its role in the Holocaust, Germany believes it has a special responsibility to protect Jewish life and sees Israel’s security as a “Staatsräson” – a “reason of state.”
However, due to growing global alarm over the starvation crisis in Gaza, Merz announced this month that Germany will not approve any exports of military equipment that could be used by Israel in the enclave.
Canada, along with the United Kingdom, France and Australia, announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state at UNGA.
A statement to a Canadian news agency from the Prime Minister’s Office this morning said that Canada’s declaration of July 30 — in which the government said recognition will take place as long as certain conditions by the Palestinian Authority are met — still stands.
Carney said during a press conference last month that Canada’s intention to recognize a Palestinian state is predicated on the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to much-needed reforms — including the commitments by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas “to fundamentally reform its governance, to hold general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part, and to demilitarize the Palestinian state.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Calls Western Recognition Of Palestinian State An “Act Of Suicide”
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar warned that Western recognition of Palestinian statehood would be an “act of suicide” for Israel.
Sa’ar said at a briefing in New York with the Conference of Presidents, the umbrella organization of Jewish organizations in the United States, “Left-wing governments in various countries, including France, Britain, Canada, and Australia, are trying to impose a Palestinian state on Israel. Israel cannot allow this.”
In recent weeks, France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia have announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September, a growing consensus among Western governments to promote a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Sa’ar, who belongs to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party, stated that Israel was in a “better strategic position than we were two years ago,” referring to Israel’s assaults against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran.
“But what was once a military siege is turning into an attempt at a political siege of the State of Israel, with a clear goal: to force upon us a Palestinian state.
“This so-called ‘solution’ is suicidal from Israel’s perspective. Israel cannot agree to it.”
Gideon Sa’ar
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