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German Chancellor Scholz vows support for Israel won’t impact Ukraine aid

Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged Tuesday to maintain Germany's aid to Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion even as Berlin supports Israel in its conflict with Hamas.

German Chancellor Scholz vows support for Israel won't impact Ukraine aid
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Denys Shmyhal (l), Prime Minister of Ukraine, take part in the 6th German-Ukrainian Business Forum of the DIHK, the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations and the German-Ukrainian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK Ukraine). Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Kay Nietfeld

“We are backing Ukraine economically, financially, with humanitarian aid and also with weapons,” Scholz said.

“This support will in no way be impacted by the fact that we of course since the horrible morning hours of October 7th have focused on Israel and the Middle East with the greatest sympathy and concern,” he said.

The German leader was speaking at a German-Ukrainian business forum in Berlin attended by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and joined virtually by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Scholz said Russian President Vladimir Putin had attacked Ukraine in an act of “imperialist delusion” and was “mistaken if he believes that he will endure longer than we will”.

“Ukraine will not stop fighting for its freedom — that has become unmistakeably clear in these more than 600 days” since the start of the invasion in February 2022, Scholz said.

“And you have our word. We will support Ukraine as long as necessary.”

READ ALSO: Germany pledges long-term military aid to Ukraine

After some initial hesitation, Germany drastically ramped up its support for Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion. The country is now the second-biggest supplier of military assistance to Kyiv after the United States.

Scholz was the first foreign head of government to visit Israel since the shock Hamas attack and has emphasised that support for Israel’s self-defence is at the core of German foreign policy due to Berlin’s responsibility for the Holocaust.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said this month that Germany would allow Israel to use two of its Heron TP combat drones and is considering a request for ammunition for warships.

More than 220 Israelis, dual nationals and foreigners were kidnapped by Hamas militants during their attack on southern Israel on October 7th that killed more than 1,400 people, according to Israeli officials.

Israel says around 1,500 Hamas fighters were killed in clashes before its army regained control of the area under attack.

More than 5,700 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed across the Gaza Strip in relentless Israeli bombardments in retaliation for the attacks by the Palestinian Islamist militant group, according to the latest toll from the Hamas health ministry in Gaza.

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POLITICS

Scholz calls on coalition to ‘pull ourselves together’

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday called on his fractious governing coalition to "pull ourselves together" following a dismal showing in EU parliament elections last week.

Scholz calls on coalition to 'pull ourselves together'

In power since the end of 2021, the three parties in government — Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the liberal FDP — have been at loggerheads on a wide range of issues including climate measures and budget spending.

“I think that this is one of the entirely justified criticisms of many citizens, namely that there is too much debate” within the coalition, Scholz told German television channel ZDF on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy.

“We need to pull ourselves together and stick together to reach agreements,” he added.

“The people have the right to demand that things change,” Scholz told public broadcaster ARD.

The three parties in the coalition suffered a severe defeat in the European elections, with the SPD achieving its worst result in a national election since 1949.

Subsequently, Scholz has faced mounting criticism within his own party.

On Saturday, however, Scholz told ZDF and ARD that he was “sure” that he would be the SPD’s next candidate for the chancellorship in the parliamentary elections scheduled for autumn 2025.

In the very short term, a new test awaits the coalition, which must reach an agreement on the 2025 budget by the beginning of July.

The FDP’s finance minister is opposed to any exceptions to the rules limiting debt and to any tax increases.

On the other hand, the SPD and the Greens are opposed to cuts in social welfare or climate protection.

The debate is also focused on increasing the resources allocated to the German army.

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