Overview
- The chancellor met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, reaffirmed Israel’s right to self‑defense and pressed for renewed negotiations toward a two‑state outcome.
- Netanyahu reiterated his rejection of an independent Palestinian state, even as Merz argued it offers the best long‑term path to regional stability.
- Merz said Germany will not recognize a Palestinian state in the foreseeable future, citing the need to implement the phased peace plan first.
- He called for expanded humanitarian access to Gaza and warned against any annexation steps in the West Bank, stressing respect for international law.
- The August partial freeze on German arms exports to Israel has expired, easing tensions, but an ICC warrant for Netanyahu complicated any invitation to Berlin, which Merz sidestepped.