A briefing by reporters confirms the cause of the publication in "Israel Today" that the EU will be furious with the sovereignty but will not impose sanctions • Expected consequences: Bad atmosphere and lack of support for Israel in international forums • On Wednesday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass
PM Netanyahu Meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (Archive)
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For the time being
A political official in Jerusalem confirms the publication in "Israel Today" that applying sovereignty will not lead to EU sanctions.
In a briefing to Israeli reporters ahead of Germany's Foreign Minister Haiku Maas's visit the next day, the politician anticipated that applying sovereignty would hurt German-Israeli relations. He noted that in the eyes of the Germans, making the move at a time when Germany was serving as the EU's Torah President would be regarded by Berlin as a double hit. The consequences for Germany, the Israeli official estimates, will be a bad atmosphere and a reluctance to assist Israel in international forums, such as the EU or the Security Council, which Germany will also use as its Torah president during the period in question. However, the Israeli official noted, there are unlikely to be any real sanctions by Germany towards Israel.
The Israeli official's remarks are in line with what they said to "Israeli Today" European diplomats, who also believed that the Union would be furious over the course of sovereignty, but on the practical level the response would be limited.
German Foreign Minister is expected to land in Israel on Wednesday. During his visit, he will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.
