Merz visits Israel as Berlin reopens weapons flow, rejecting anti-Israel propaganda while confronting Hamas reality.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit Israel on December 6–7, marking his first official trip since taking office, the German government announced Friday. According to Reuters, the visit underscores Berlin’s enduring strategic alliance with Israel at a time when Europe faces mounting pressure from pro-Palestinian groups and radicalized Arab networks working to undermine Western support for the Jewish state.
Merz is set to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on December 7, where the leaders will discuss bilateral ties, the ceasefire in Gaza, and key global issues. He will also tour Yad Vashem, asserting Germany’s continued commitment to Holocaust remembrance and its historical responsibility to stand with Israel—especially as anti-Israel rhetoric resurges in Europe.
Despite Germany’s longstanding role as one of Israel’s strongest allies, Merz has occasionally criticized certain tactical decisions during the Gaza war. However, importantly, he has refused to endorse the baseless “genocide” accusations pushed by pro-Hamas activists, Iran-aligned media outlets, and anti-Israel agitators across Europe.
Earlier this month, Berlin moved to resume weapons sales to Israel after suspending them in August due to internal German political pressure. The resumption, conditioned on adherence to the ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, signals a recalibration in Berlin’s policy—one that recognizes Israel’s security needs in the face of Iran-backed terror.
Netanyahu, who spoke with Merz following the temporary embargo, expressed deep disappointment at Germany’s earlier decision.
The Prime Minister’s Office issued a blunt statement:
“Instead of supporting Israel’s just war against Hamas—the most horrific attacker of Jews since the Holocaust—Germany rewarded terrorism by embargoing arms to Israel.”
Netanyahu reiterated that Israel’s objective is not occupation but liberation—removing Hamas’s stranglehold over Gaza so that the territory can be governed peacefully and responsibly.
Merz’s embargo decision drew sharp criticism even within his own political bloc, with several German lawmakers arguing that halting arms shipments during a war against Islamist terrorists contradicted Germany’s moral obligation to defend the Jewish state.
The upcoming visit is therefore seen as an opportunity to reset relations and reinforce Germany’s recognition that Israel’s fight against Hamas is not merely a regional conflict but a front-line battle against extremism threatening democracies worldwide.
