Olaf Scholz on Palestine

Olaf Scholz has centered Germany's position on the principle of Israel's security, often citing Germany's historical responsibility arising from the Holocaust as a "reason of state" guiding its foreign policy. Following the October 2023 events, he explicitly stated that Germany's place is "alongside Israel" and opposed immediate, long-term ceasefires, arguing they would allow Hamas to recover. However, he has simultaneously maintained that there can be no lasting peace in the Middle East without a perspective for an independent Palestinian state, advocating for a negotiated two-state solution where Israel and Palestine coexist side-by-side.

His government's stance is characterized by this duality, balancing unwavering solidarity with Israel against the stated long-term goal of Palestinian self-governance. This dual position has led to specific policy actions, such as abstaining from certain UN General Assembly votes calling for a ceasefire while also previously pausing arms exports to Israel during heightened civilian casualties. Furthermore, the Chancellor has asserted that Germany's position does not imply support for Israeli occupation policy, despite being a major arms supplier, and has pushed back against EU officials whose criticism of Israel did not align with Berlin's stance.