Merz and Netanyahu put turbulence behind them
At their meeting in Jerusalem, the two heads of government stressed German-Israeli friendship after a difficult period, though differences remain.
Jerusalem (dpa) – Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have largely put behind them the recent turbulence in bilateral relations. During the Federal Chancellor’s inaugural visit to Jerusalem, the two leaders drew a line under their dispute over German arms exports to Israel, which had at times been largely suspended, and reaffirmed the special partnership between the two countries.
“I come as a friend of the country, as a friend of Israel, who knows that the friendship between Germany and Israel is infinitely valuable and precious,” Merz said.
Writing in the visitors’ book at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, the Federal Chancellor said Germany’s commitment to Israel’s security was “an unchanging core element” of relations between the two countries. “That applies today, it applies tomorrow and it applies forever.”
Netanyahu spoke of a “historic shift” in bilateral relations, highlighting cooperation in the defence sector.
