Germany's military wants to keep arming its aerial drones - but politicians allied with Chancellor Angela Merkel's grand coalition want none of it.
The center-left Social Democrats, the junior partners in the ruling grand coalition, are demanding debates over the plan to arm military drones.
The ministry of defense held discussions with soldiers, international law experts, defense experts and politicians.
"The line between defending the lives of our soldiers and killing with a joystick is extremely thin," said Social Democrat leader Norbert Walter-Borjans.
He said the issue hadn't been sufficiently debated in parliament. German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who supports arming the drones, was dismayed by the Social Democrats' about face.
The statement by Walter-Borjans was met with widespread disbelief among German politicians that either support or oppose the acquisition of armed aerial drones.
"The arguments on this issue have already been exchanged," Tobias Lindner of the Green party said during a debate on the defense budget.
He told the Social Democrats they could be for or against armed drones - but must pick a side.
At issue is a military plan to arm its five Israeli-made unmanned aerial vehicles with missiles and smart bombs.
These remotely piloted, combat-proven drones can remain over a target for more than 30 hours at 14,000 meters. They are among the largest aerial drones and can send real-time images to controllers and can be fitted with intelligence equipment, too.
The military now wants missiles and air-to-ground weapons on the drones. The plan was for the German parliament to approve the purchase of these missiles before Christmas. The ministry of defense had already prepared the purchase contract.
The Christian Democratic Union advocates arming aerial drones. Its defense policy spokesman Henning Otte said it was "immoral to deny our soldiers technology that protects people and lives." France, the U.K. and Ukraine are among European countries deploying armed drones.
Defense commissioner Eva Högl - a Social Democrat - said armed drones increased the safety of soldiers because drones offer more flexible options for responding to threats."
She said the rules of engagement for drones had to be clearly defined and controlled by the military.
