Germany's Greens debate military service, Mideast at party conference

Germany's Greens, still reeling from a defeat in national elections earlier this year, talked deep into the night at their party conference in the northern city of Hanover to settle two highly sensitive debates: military service and Middle East policy.

After hours of emotional exchanges, delegates early Sunday backed mandatory conscription assessments for young men, while steering clear of a return to compulsory military service.

On the Middle East, the party shifted its tone, placing greater weight on Palestinian self-determination, while reaffirming Israel's right to exist.

Under the new position, all young men would be required to undergo a military suitability examination, though actual service would remain voluntary.

A new national crisis-management office would catalogue skills that could be deployed in civilian or military emergencies and coordinate training programmes.

Conscription for men was suspended in 2011 but could legally be reinstated by parliament.

Germany's governing coalition led by conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz - which does not include the Greens - is preparing its military service reform with universal assessments and possible conditional conscription if volunteer numbers fall short. Legislation is expected in the Bundestag next week.

Party shifts tone on Middle East

On Middle East policy, Brantner said three principles were non-negotiable for the party: Israel's security, Palestinian self-determination and human dignity.

Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, speaking as a guest, told delegates he saw no alternative to a two-state solution and urged US President Donald Trump to use his leverage after securing a ceasefire to push for a lasting settlement.

Delegates at the three-day conference called on the German government to stop blocking a coordinated EU approach and to support a partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement "should Israel continue to fail to fulfil its obligations under international law" - while keeping research and civil-society cooperation intact.

After lengthy debate, delegates rejected the immediate recognition of a Palestinian state. Instead, they agreed recognition should become a "prioritized step" within an ongoing peace process.

In a retrospective text adopted at the conference, the party criticized Israel's military response in Gaza as "disproportionate and partly unlawful," saying the humanitarian impact cannot be justified even in light of Palestinian militant group Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack.

The Greens were part of the government at the time; then foreign minister Annalena Baerbock is not attending the congress.

Climate, transport and energy discussed earlier in the day

Earlier, delegates backed a push to tax private jet use and luxury air travel and renewed calls to reduce Germany's nationwide public-transport ticket from €59 ($68) back to €9.

Energy was also discussed as several Green state environment ministers sought a halt to the government's plans for natural gas production off the island of Borkum in the Bundesrat.

The Greens, who were part of the last coalition government together with the Social Democrats and pro-business Free Democrats, performed poorly in February's polls, garnering only 11.6% of the vote.

They also lost top members in the leadership, namely former finance minister Robert Habeck and former foreign minister Baerbock.

The conference concludes on Sunday with debates on tax, digital and energy policy.