Difficult inaugural go to: Merz: Germany at all times stands by Israel’s aspect | EUROtoday

At the beginning of his first go to to Israel as Chancellor, Friedrich Merz reaffirmed Germany’s particular duty for the Jewish state’s proper to exist. “We will always stand by this country,” he mentioned at a gathering with Israeli President Izchak Herzog in Jerusalem. “I know about the obligation that every Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany has in this country.”

For him personally, it stays a miracle that after the crimes of the Holocaust, the friendship between Germany and Israel has been in a position to be constructed and deepened to today. German solidarity with Israel now applies particularly “after the terrible massacre” by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Chancellor additionally addresses “dilemmas” in relations

But Merz additionally emphasised that he was coming to Israel at a time that “could hardly be more complicated.” The Israeli military’s actions within the Gaza warfare “presented Germany with a number of dilemmas.” He mentioned that they’d responded to this, apparently additionally with a view to the momentary restriction on arms exports to Israel, which has since been withdrawn.

However, the Chancellor emphasised that “to date we have no fundamental differences whatsoever.” Israel has the fitting to defend itself; it was Hamas that began the warfare. If they lay down their weapons, the warfare might be over. “Then there is a future for the region, there is also a future for Gaza.”

He reiterated the purpose of a two-state answer within the Middle East. This signifies that Israel and an impartial Palestinian state exist peacefully aspect by aspect.

Herzog speaks of a “new horizon” for individuals within the area

Israeli President Herzog expressed the hope that US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan would imply a brand new horizon for the individuals of Gaza and Israel, in addition to for neighboring Arab states. Germany might play an necessary position on this.

Regarding the current deployment of the Arrow 3 missile protection system in Germany, Herzog mentioned: “The fact that Germany is being defended in Europe with an Israeli product is unique and very moving and important.”

German-Israeli friendship “a great treasure”

Merz wrote within the visitor ebook within the presidential workplace in Jerusalem: “The friendship between Germany and Israel is a great treasure.” Eight a long time after the Shoah, it stays “our responsibility to strengthen the bond between our countries from generation to generation.” Merz additional wrote: “Out of deep conviction, I am ready to do my part in this responsibility together with you.” He is “deeply grateful” for his shut ties with President Herzog.

Merz warns towards annexations within the West Bank

Before visiting Israel, Merz traveled to Jordan and pushed for progress within the Middle East peace course of. From there he additionally despatched phrases of warning to Israel. The scenario within the West Bank shouldn’t be overlooked, he mentioned. “We must keep the path to Palestinian statehood open. That is why there must be no annexation steps in the West Bank.” Ultra-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities have lengthy advocated for annexation of the West Bank. The Palestinians declare the realm as a part of a future impartial state.

Meeting with Netanyahu and freed Hamas hostages

Merz will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. Before that, he’ll go to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and commemorate the six million Jews murdered in the course of the Nazi dictatorship – a program that’s a part of each inaugural go to to Israel by a German chancellor. He additionally meets with launched Hamas hostages and survivors of hostages who had been killed or died in captivity.

Arms cooperation is prone to be a problem

In the talks with Netanyahu, along with the Middle East peace course of, the just lately turbulent German-Israeli relations are prone to play a bigger position within the talks in Jerusalem. The partial embargo on German arms exports has just lately put a extreme pressure on German-Israeli relations. On August 8, Merz ordered that no extra exports of arms to Israel that could possibly be used within the Gaza warfare can be authorized in the interim.

Now Israel is once more hoping for elevated arms deliveries from Germany – together with gearboxes for its Merkava tanks. On the opposite hand, Germany advantages from Israeli army gear corresponding to Arrow 3.

Netanyahu and the worldwide arrest warrant

Perhaps essentially the most tough query for Merz might be whether or not Netanyahu can be welcome in Germany regardless of a global arrest warrant. Shortly after taking workplace, the Chancellor declared his normal willingness to permit him to go to. “In principle, an Israeli prime minister must be able to travel to Germany,” he mentioned in mid-May. “He is a democratically elected Prime Minister of the only democracy in the entire region. In principle, this Prime Minister must be able to travel to Germany. We will inform you in good time how we make this possible, if it is planned.”