Seven months into his chancellorship, Friedrich Merz made his first official visit to Israel, a trip that lasted less than 24 hours. The visit was closely scrutinized – particularly in Germany – over whether it would send the wrong signal amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza and increasing violence in the West Bank.
Historian Moshe Zimmerman told DW that among the Israeli public, Merz is relatively unknown.
Zimmerman said, “If you asked people in a survey, ‘Who is the current Chancellor of Germany?’, no more than 10% of Israelis would know that his name is Friedrich Merz.” “For the vast majority, Angela Merkel is still chancellor – and she was very popular here.”
However, recently, there have been increasingly critical voices from Germany regarding Israel’s military conduct in Gaza, and this was somewhat unusual for the Israelis.
Differences on ‘Palestinian issue’
All eyes were on the joint statement and press conference between Prime Ministers Benjamin Netanyahu and Friedrich Merz to see if bilateral relations were affected. Although they acknowledged differences on some issues, the two leaders reiterated the strength of relations between their countries.
“This visit confirms the strength of bilateral relations, Germany’s commitment to Israel, and Israel’s commitment to Germany – a partnership that has steadily strengthened in recent years,” said Jeremy Ischaroff, Israel’s former ambassador to Germany between 2017 and 2022.
Issacharoff said, “The press conference showed that relations are strong, but there are differences, mainly on how to proceed on the Palestinian issue.” “I think both countries recognize that.”
During his meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog the previous evening, Meraz acknowledged that the timing of his visit was “complicated”: the ceasefire process in Gaza has not advanced to its second phase, casualties continue in the area devastated by daily air strikes, and Israel is still awaiting the return of the remains of its last hostages from Gaza.
Meanwhile, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Israel’s occupation policies as well as a sharp increase in violent settler attacks against Palestinians have alarmed European countries.
“It’s a symbolic visit, but also an important one,” said Shimon Stein, who served as Israel’s ambassador to Berlin from 2001 to 2007. “Merz has expressed solidarity and friendship with Israel from the beginning. Yet this comes at a time of many open conflicts both domestically and regionally.”
Disagreements over two-state solution
Like many Western leaders, the German Chancellor reiterated support for a two-state solution, even though current conditions seem to make the establishment of a Palestinian state further away than ever.
“We firmly believe that the possible establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel offers the best prospects for the future,” Merz said, adding that any two-state solution could only emerge at the end of the negotiations, not at the beginning, and reiterating Germany’s refusal to recognize a Palestinian state for the time being.
Zimmerman saw nothing new in the chancellor’s approach. “Of course, the Chancellor mentioned that Germany opposes the annexation of the West Bank. This is a mandatory exercise. But nothing was said about what is actually happening there today,” Zimmermann told DW. “As German Chancellor, he confirmed the old policy: non-recognition of Palestinian statehood – unlike some other European countries.”
The German Chancellor did not travel to the occupied West Bank to meet Palestinian leaders or civil society representatives. His office noted only a phone call with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before the regional trip.
Prime Minister Netanyahu immediately rejected any notion of a Palestinian state. His far-right government has repeatedly rejected the possibility of an independent Palestinian state, instead advocating for comprehensive regional peace.
“We believe there is a path forward to comprehensive peace with the Arab states and practical peace with our Palestinian neighbors,” Netanyahu said. “But we are not going to create a state that will be committed to our destruction on our doorstep.”
Arms ban is a one-time measure
Another point of contention seems to be receding. While Merz acknowledged that some Israeli military actions in Gaza had put Germany in a “crisis” and urged Israel to respect international law, he stressed that the decision to suspend arms deliveries was a one-time measure.
Germany suspended some arms deliveries to Israel in August amid growing concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza. The suspension was lifted in November following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Defense cooperation remains a cornerstone of German-Israeli relations despite the war in Gaza, which a UN committee has labeled genocide – a charge Israel rejects.
Netanyahu stressed that 80 years after the Holocaust, it is Israel that keeps Germany and Europe safe, and cited Berlin’s recent acquisition of Israel’s Arrow Defense 3 system as evidence.
Limited German influence
The Israeli Prime Minister also made it clear that any political developments in Gaza will be discussed in Washington later this month, when he is scheduled to visit the White House. Many observers agree that Germany’s direct political role in the region is limited – neither Germany nor the EU is currently making decisions, said Simeon Stein; Decisions are taken in Washington.
“With Trump pushing forward with plans like his, Israel has – after October 7 – become completely dependent on the US,” Stein said. “So much so that I don’t think Netanyahu has much room to act independently,” he said. He said that as an Israeli this was quite “disturbing”.
Moshe Zimmerman expressed the same view. “Germany cannot start anything here except providing financial assistance to the Palestinians,” he said. “This means that when it comes to who will finance Trump’s plans, the answer is, among others, Germany.”
Zimmerman said, “So far this chancellor has not made a name for himself among Israelis and Israelis in the diaspora, which is not surprising.” “The Israelis are focused on what’s happening in America – and Netanyahu has said the same. This is our way of saying that you Europeans are irrelevant.”
Edited by: Andreas Illmer