Shift in Germany: what the victory of the Left and the AfD means for Israel

Regional elections in Germany have strengthened parties with opposing views on Israel: Die Linke won in Berlin, the AfD in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Chancellor Merz's CDU suffered a heavy defeat. The possible consequences for relations with Israel are analyzed.

Regional elections in Germany have dramatically changed the political landscape. In Berlin, the Left Party Die Linke won for the first time with 25.7% of the vote, while in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) took first place with 38.2%. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU suffered a heavy defeat on both fronts. For Israel, these results are particularly significant, as both parties hold fundamentally different, yet equally distant from the traditional German center, positions regarding the Jewish state. Die Linke, at its federal congress in June 2026, called Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip genocide and demands a halt to arms supplies. The AfD, on the other hand, recognizes Israel's right to self-defense and opposes sanctions, although there are disagreements within the party. Germany's foreign policy remains under the purview of Merz's federal government, so no immediate changes in course are expected. However, the long-term trend points to the strengthening of parties whose approaches to Israel differ significantly from the traditional one.