During his inaugural visit to Israel, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) reaffirmed Germany’s reliable support for the country while also openly addressing political disagreements. “It remains the immutable core of the Federal Republic of Germany’s policy to stand by this country,” Merz said late Saturday evening during a meeting with President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem. The chancellor is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.
Merz acknowledged the difficult timing of his trip. “I am coming to Israel at a time that could hardly be more complicated,” he said. Distancing himself from Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip, he urged a shift toward a two-state solution, establishing an independent Palestinian state that peacefully coexists with Israel. He emphasized that the Israeli army’s operations in Gaza had placed Germany “before several dilemmas.” His government had “responded to this,” he added, an apparent reference to the partial, temporary arms embargo he imposed on Israel in August.
Still, Merz stressed the fundamental alignment between Berlin and Jerusalem. “We have also seen that to this day we have, in principle, no differences whatsoever,” he said. “Israel has the right to defend itself. We will always support Israel in doing so.” Merz expressed hope for further progress in the Gaza peace process. The U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal must now move into its second phase, he said, which includes the disarmament of Hamas. “For this war originated solely from Hamas, and if Hamas lays down its weapons, this war is over,” Merz stated.
By advocating for a two-state solution, the chancellor made clear the differences between Berlin and the current Israeli government, which opposes the creation of a Palestinian state. Germany, he said, is committed to ensuring that the end of negotiations produces “a good coexistence in a two-state solution,” enabling Israelis, Palestinians, and the wider Arab world “to live in peace and in freedom and dignity.”
Earlier on Saturday, after talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in the port city of Aqaba, Merz had also outlined his expectations for Israel. For a “new order” in the Middle East, he said, the “path to Palestinian statehood must remain open.”
Merz issued a sharp warning against any annexation of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, an idea floated by ultraright members of Netanyahu’s coalition. He said there must be “no annexation steps in the West Bank, no formal ones, but also no political, structural, factual, or other measures that in practice amount to an annexation of the region.”
He urged the Israeli government to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. “Before winter, there must be more humanitarian aid, better access for this aid, and a start to reconstruction.” To deprive Hamas of support, he said, there must be a “noticeable” improvement in the humanitarian situation. German-Israeli relations had gone through a difficult period in the months before Merz’s visit. The chancellor had criticized Israel’s military operations in Gaza and significantly restricted arms exports to Israel in August. The Israeli government reacted with anger.
The partial embargo expired at the end of November, to the relief of Israel’s leadership. “After the expiration, relations are improving,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Saturday upon Merz’s arrival. “The chancellor is a friend of Israel, and Germany is an important partner,” Saar wrote on X. During his meeting with Netanyahu on Sunday, Merz says he will again advocate for a two-state solution. He also plans to raise concerns about the tense situation in the West Bank.
Before meeting Netanyahu, Merz will first visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial on Sunday morning. To conclude his trip, the chancellor plans to meet former Hamas hostages and relatives of those killed before returning to Berlin.
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