Overview
- In Jerusalem, Merz said Germany must stand for Israel’s existence and security and reiterated support for a two‑state solution.
- He cautioned against any annexation steps in the West Bank and described August’s export limits as a values‑driven signal that Berlin lifted after the October ceasefire.
- Netanjahu again rejected a Palestinian state and defended Israel’s conduct in Gaza, faces an ICC arrest warrant, and received no Berlin visit invitation, which Merz said was "no topic."
- The Chancellery reports 140‑plus law‑enforcement contacts since May over potentially criminal online insults, while BKA data show 5,155 §188 StGB cases in the first nine months with 92% of ZMI reports from "Hessen gegen Hetze."
- Several investigations into critics, including activist Tadzio Müller, were dropped as protected speech, and a Tagesspiegel lawsuit to obtain details on these contacts remains pending.