The majority of German citizens oppose the continuation of arms sales to Israel, according to a survey released on Tuesday. The poll, conducted by the Forsa Institute and commissioned by Stern magazine and RTL, showed that 60% of respondents do not support arms exports to Israel, while only 31% approve of such actions. Another 9% are undecided.
The survey was conducted on 17-18 October by telephone among 1,007 people, with a margin of error of 3%.
Last week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking in the Bundestag, reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supplying arms to Israel. “These supplies are here and will continue. Israel can rely on us,” Scholz said. However, it is not yet clear whether these supplies continue. According to dpa, from March to mid-August, Germany did not send weapons to Israel.
Scholz also highlighted the need for humanitarian aid for Gaza and the importance of respecting international law in the conflict in the Middle East, stressing the importance of seeking a two-state solution.
According to the survey, the position on arms exports to Israel differs significantly among voters of different political parties. In particular, among the supporters of the government parties, 60% of the voters of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and 52% of the voters of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) oppose arms supplies. Among the supporters of the Greens, half also oppose these supplies.
In the ranks of the opposition conservative CDU/CSU party, 56% of voters are against arms supplies. The most opposed parties are the populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (85%) and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) (75%).
