Merz: Germany will always stand by Israel’s side
This is one of his most important - but also most difficult - trips abroad to date. In Jerusalem, Chancellor Friedrich Merz stresses solidarity with Israel but also addresses problems.
Jerusalem (dpa) - At the start of his first visit to Israel as Federal Chancellor, Friedrich Merz has reaffirmed Germany’s special responsibility for the right of the Jewish state to exist. “We will always stand by this country’s side,” he said during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem.
He said that Israeli army’s actions in the war in Gaza had “presented Germany with a number of dilemmas”. In an apparent reference to the temporary restriction of arms exports to Israel, he explained that Germany had taken steps to address these concerns.
The chancellor stressed however “that we have seen that, to this day, we have no fundamental differences”. Israel had the right to defend itself and it was Hamas that started the war, he said, adding that the war would end when Hamas laid down its arms.
Israel’s President Herzog expressed the hope that US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan could mean a new horizon for the people in Gaza and Israel, as well as for the Arab neighbouring states. He said that Germany could play an important role in this.
Before his visit to Israel, Merz had travelled to Jordan, where he urged for progress to be made in the Middle East peace process and addressed words of warning to Israel: “We must keep the path to Palestinian statehood open. That’s why there must be no steps towards annexing the West Bank.”
Today Merz will be meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Beforehand, he will visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. He will also be meeting with hostages released by Hamas.
