Overview

• The September 1 visit to North Rhine-Westphalia will be Merz’s fourth inaugural trip after stops in Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Saarland
• Minister-President Hendrik Wüst has summoned a special cabinet session for that date, diverging from the state’s usual meeting schedule
• Merz has postponed consideration of any sanctions against Israel until after Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul submits his findings from a fact-finding mission
• He described Gaza’s humanitarian situation as unacceptable and insisted on ensuring at least basic medical and food aid to the enclave
• Germany remains among EU countries opposing restrictions on Israel over Gaza’s crisis during broader discussions on the Horizon Europe program and policy responses in Brussels