MADRID - Germany will reach a decision on whether to back European Union sanctions against Israel before a European Union meeting in Copenhagen in October, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on a visit to Madrid on Thursday. Speaking alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Merz said Israel's actions in Gaza were not proportional to its stated goals, but said Germany did not share the view that the actions amounted to genocide. He added that for Germany, the recognition of Palestinian statehood was not currently up for debate. Merz's comments underscore how Germany has become increasingly willing to criticise Israel but is...