Merz to visit Israel for 1st time as German chancellor

[Twiglets1]

Reported in Times of Israel and Al Jazeera that the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Israel on December 6th for his first official visit since taking office.

He will meet with Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss bilateral relations, the ceasefire in Gaza and other international issues.

The announcement came days after the German government moved to resume weapons sales to Israel that had been suspended since August. Germany is Israel's second-largest arms exporter after the US.

Al Jazeera report that:

In August... Merz announced restrictions on selling weapons to Israel after Netanyahu ordered a campaign to seize Gaza City.

The German government moved to resume weapons sales to Israel this month, citing the US-brokered ceasefire agreement with Hamas that began on October 10.

Who supplies Israel with weapons?

CNN article dated October 2024:

In 2023 69% of Israel’s arm imports came from the US, according to a report into international arms transfers by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Germany was the second largest, providing 30%, followed by Italy with 0.9%. The UK, France and Spain were among other minor contributors.

Italy has stopped arms shipments to Israel since October 7 2023.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/16/middleeast/where-israel-get-its-weapons

Hmm that’s interesting that Italy immediately stopped arms shipments to Israel from Oct 7th 2023.

Almost as if they knew Oct 7th was going to create a massive military response from Israel. Weird that the Palestinians themselves and their supporters seemingly didn’t.

The announcement came days after the German government moved to resume weapons sales to Israel that had been suspended since August. Germany is Israel's second-largest arms exporter after the US. @Twiglets1

Someone I know bought some Rheinmetall shares just over a year ago at around €480. Now at about €1500. Has trebled his money in a year. Made a killing.
Kicking themselves that they didn't buy back in Feb '22 at just over €100.

Conflict and wars are great for business and making money.

Yup while Hamas supporters in Gaza & elsewhere were dancing in the streets, Italy was thinking a bit more cautiously about what was likely to happen the day after 7/10.

Exactly, I'm in agreement with you and it's a shame that more countries didn't follow Italy's lead, but I guess business is business.

Conflict and wars are great for business and making money.

So true @mouthpipette

One way or another, so many people will get richer from this war. I wouldn't personally want to buy shares in a company manufacturing arms but still ... it was a good investment.

In the UK I think defence spending accounts for about 400,000 jobs. We need people to buy our kit. I remember asking Gisela Stewart MP whether we should be ashamed about our arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the morality of doing so. She simply said, "Go and state your views in Barrow in Furness and see how they go down there."
Realpolitik at its best

I'm being a hypocrite @mouthpipette because I wouldn't want it on my conscience that I was contributing to the arms business in some small way by buying shares in a company that manufactured arms.

But at the same time - I want jobs for people in Britain in the defence industry. And I think countries have the right to defend themselves, which they need sophisticated weapons to do effectively.

I wish no countries would start wars but that's unrealistic.

A moral conundrum!