In his first visit to Israel as chancellor, Friedrich Merz walks a diplomatic tightrope: affirming Germany's support while addressing civilian suffering in Gaza.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

The U.S-brokered ceasefire deal in Gaza is holding, after Hamas released the remaining Israeli hostages.

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Israel, where he emphasized Germany's continued support for Israel's right to exist and its right to self-defense. During meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Merz also voiced concerns regarding the humanitarian impact of Israeli military operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The visit highlighted the recent deployment of the Israeli-made Arrow 3 missile defense system in Germany, following a $4.5 billion arms deal, the largest in Israeli history. Merz is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though German officials stated there are no plans to invite Netanyahu to Berlin.

German Chancellor Merz reaffirms support for Israel

In Israel, Friedrich Merz is tasked with walking a diplomatic tightrope, affirming Germany's support for Israel, while at the same time voicing concern over the Israeli military's actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. He attempted to do just that at Saturday's meeting with the Israeli president. We have now seen that the actions of the Israeli army in Gaza have presented us with a dilemma. We have reacted to this. However, we have also seen that, to date, we have no fundamental differences. Israel has the right to defend itself. And this will remain the case, because this is the only way to secure Israel's right to exist. We stand by Israel's right to exist, and we will always support Israel in this. President Isaac Herzog praised their relationship and a historic weapons deal they signed. We've become very close friends, and for me to see the Arrow 3 missiles being installed in Germany to defend Germany in Europe, Israeli-made product, means something very unique and moving and important. Last week, Germany deployed the Israeli-made air defence system built to intercept intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The $4.5 billion purchase in 2023 was reportedly the largest arms export deal in Israeli history. This comes months after the chancellor temporarily suspended the export of some weapons to Israel over the war in Gaza. Merz first raised concern over Israel's actions in Gaza shortly after taking office. What the Israeli army is now doing in the Gaza Strip, I no longer understand, frankly, what the objective is. To cause such suffering to the civilian population, as has increasingly been the case in recent days, can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism. Now Merz will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a man wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza. German officials say there are no plans to invite Netanyahu to Berlin.

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Porto-Novo

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Hong Kong Island

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Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

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Moscow

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Jakarta

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New Orleans

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Bilbao

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Saulsville

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Manhattan

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Caracas

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German Chancellor Merz reaffirms support for Israel

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