Though it has been two days since Israel's parliamentary elections, German politicians are still being cautious to respond, as it is still unclear who will lead Israel's new government.
uncertain
who → respond → government
Although the right-wing bloc, including religious hardliners, led by incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ahead of the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, neither has a clear path to a governing majority in the Knesset.
Forming a coalition government is likely to be extremely difficult.
asserted
Forming → include → government
Martin Giese, spokesperson for German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, declined to comment at Wednesday's regular government press conference in Berlin.
But he did stress that Germany has been in contact with numerous officials and politicians in Israel via Germany's ambassador.
asserted
Germany → decline → ambassador
"The Jewish state and Germany are inextricably linked by our history, and we will do everything we can to work well with any future government," Wadephul said.
asserted
Wadephul → link → government
One concern for the German government is providing aid to the people in Gaza, and protracted coalition negotiations could delay necessary progress.
uncertain
negotiations → provide → progress
"Winter is coming, and it will be difficult," Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan, currently visiting Lebanon, warned in an interview with Politico.
asserted
Radovan → come → Politico
She underlined that there must be more opportunities for aid organizations to provide crucial assistance in Gaza and that it cannot wait for coalition negotiations.
asserted
it → underline → negotiations
In interviews with DW and broadcaster RTL, she spoke about the recent increase in attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
asserted
she → speak → Bank
"The radical settler violence must be stopped.
asserted
violence → stop → ?
The Netanyahu government remains in office on an interim basis, and this means that this situation must still be brought to an end," she said.
asserted
she → remain → end
All settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories is considered illegal under international law.
asserted
activity → occupy → law
Recently, however, the German government has distanced itself from Netanyahu's policies, at least in its public rhetoric.
asserted
government → distance → rhetoric
Most recently, Wadephul said after a major Israeli military operation near the city of Hebron: "Under international law, Israel is quite clearly obligated to uphold and protect the rights of Palestinians as well."
asserted
Israel → say → Palestinians
Around 3,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes during the operation, which followed the reported killing of two Israeli soldiers by Palestinians.
asserted
which → drive → Palestinians
In Berlin, there has long been speculation about whether Germany's policy toward Israel might change after Israel's 2026 election.
uncertain
policy → change → election
So far, one thing is clear: Unlike numerous other countries, including some in Europe, Germany does not intend to recognize a Palestinian state for the time being.
asserted
Germany → include → time
CDU hoping for a centrist government
asserted
CDU → hop → government
At the same time, Germany hopes that the future government will no longer include religious extremists, and in some cases far-right, politicians such as the current Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
asserted
government → hop → Minister
"I think it would be best for Israel to form a government that is closer to the center of the political spectrum," Jürgen Hardt, foreign policy expert for the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in the Bundestag, told DW.
asserted
Hardt → think → DW
"Of course, that's something the people, and above all the elected politicians, will have to figure out.
asserted
people → elect → politicians
But it's encouraging that so many people participated in the election."
asserted
people → participate → election
The Arab-majority parties led by Palestinian citizens of Israel made large gains in this election.
asserted
parties → lead → election
They are usually classified as part of the current opposition camp.
asserted
They → classify → camp
The historic results by these parties could lead them to play a kingmaker role in coalition formation.
uncertain
results → lead → formation
However, Netanyahu’s bloc have ruled out working with the Arab-majority parties.
asserted
bloc → rule → parties
Eisenkot's opposition bloc has not yet said whether it would be willing to form such a coalition, but one of the Arab-majority parties, United Arab List, featured a Jewish candidate, and has stated its willingness to work with Eisenkot’s bloc to unseat Netanyahu.
asserted
one → say → Netanyahu
Hardt believes a minority government led by Eisenkot and supported by parties representing Arab Israelis is conceivable.
"
asserted
government → believe → Israelis
The major campaign carried out by Netanyahu's camp, aimed primarily against Arab Israelis, greatly mobilized the opposition, to the point where his camp no longer has a majority."
asserted
camp → carry → majority
The vice president of the German Bundestag, Green Party politician Omid Nouripour, told DW: "Frankly, after all the turmoil that has occurred — for example, regarding judicial reform — this is good news for Israeli democracy."
asserted
this → tell → democracy
This article was originally published in German.
asserted
article → publish → German
The Aporia
