Merz criticises Israel’s military strikes in Lebanon
Federal Chancellor Merz is concerned that Israel’s attacks in Lebanon could cause the peace process to fail. It is uncertain whether the upcoming negotiations with Iran will be successful.
Berlin (dpa/d.de) – Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised Israel’s military action in Lebanon. He expressed great concern about the situation in the entire region, and said that he was particularly alarmed about the state of affairs in Southern Lebanon.
“The intensity with which Israel is waging war there could cause the entire peace process to fail, and we must not allow that to happen,” Merz stressed. “This is why yesterday, myself and other heads of state and government asked the Israeli government to cease its attacks that have become even more intense.”
Unlike Iran, Israel and the US do not think of Lebanon as being included in the agreed two-week ceasefire. The Iranian news agency Fars reports that Iran has been considering to end the ceasefire due to the large-scale attacks against its ally Hezbollah.
Regarding the talks between the USA and Iran that are scheduled to take place in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Saturday, Merz said that this was the first opportunity for negotiating a resolution but he also expressed scepticism: “Diplomatic success is by no means guaranteed.” He added that the Federal Government was also resuming direct talks with Tehran.
