Mertz called friendship with Israel “a great treasure”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz began his first visit to Israel in the status of head of government. The tone of the trip is cautious but direct. Support for Israel is confirmed, but around the Gaza sector, Berlin is acting differently.

In Jerusalem, Merz spoke about allied obligations. Germany, he said, “remains alongside” Israel after the attacks on October 7. But the political background is different: part of the coalition demands a review of arms supplies, and this puts pressure on the government. Therefore, Berlin had to temporarily halt some export licenses — a step that was perceived in Jerusalem as a signal that support is no longer automatic.

Merz tried to soften this perception. He said that there are no fundamental disagreements between the countries. Israel has the right to self-defense — “inalienable,” he emphasized. But Germany also has its own internal policy, and there’s no escaping it.

He also cautiously advanced the thesis of the need for a political solution. He reminded of the peace plan of US President Donald Trump and added: if Hamas lays down its arms, the war can be stopped without further escalation. It was said without emotion, more as a stated position than as an attempt to influence Israeli tactics.

In the guestbook in Jerusalem, Merz left a note about the constancy of friendship between the two countries. The formula is strict, diplomatic. But in Berlin, not everyone agrees even with such a position. Left Party representative Jan van Aken stated that the chancellor’s visit is a “declaration of war on international law” and criticized the resumption of arms supplies. These statements do not change the German line but show cracks that will only widen further.

This is why this visit turned out to be ambiguous. Public support is there. Restrained limitations are also there. Trying to explain everything at once is almost impossible. Merz tried to maintain balance, and this seems to be the main thing Berlin can do right now.

In international politics, support and criticism rarely live separately. Israel and Germany are undergoing this test together, each with its own risks and audience. We provide detailed context and comprehensive analysis on NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, where reactions and positional lines of both countries are collected, without which the picture cannot be seen.