On Saturday, 6 December, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Israel for his inaugural visit. Prior to this, he had met King Abdullah II of Jordan for a personal conversation and spoken by phone with Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority. In both conversations, Merz emphasized the necessity of a negotiated two-state solution, the swift disarmament of Hamas, and Germany’s support for the Gaza peace plan proposed by US President Trump.
These topics were central to the subsequent state visit to Israel. Upon his arrival at Ben-Gurion Airport on Saturday evening, Merz was welcomed by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar before meeting President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem. President Herzog recalled the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations and their significance for Israel. Merz, in turn, referred to Germany’s historical responsibility and linked this with a view toward the region’s future: a long-term ceasefire and a negotiated two-state solution. This historical reference—especially in light of the later wreath-laying at Yad Vashem—resonated widely in the FAZ. There, Merz’s handling of German “guilt” was emphasized, and it was also noted that he had not used the term “reason of state.”[1] Israeli media, by contrast, placed less emphasis on these symbolic gestures and more on the security-policy aspects of the visit.
On Sunday, 7 December, Merz visited the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem. German media largely placed this moment within the tradition of German government visits; the FAZ emphasized the continuity of remembrance-policy signals, while the Jüdische Allgemeine later described the visit as part of an overall “delicate new beginning” between the two governments.[2]
Afterwards, the Chancellor met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This meeting and the subsequent press conference formed the political highlight of the Chancellor’s inaugural visit. At the press conference, Merz stressed that after the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, Germany had “stood firmly at Israel’s side.”[3] However, during the war, Germany found itself in a “dilemma”:
“Germany must stand up for Israel’s security, and Germany must stand up for human dignity and law, which form the core of our constitution, especially after the Shoah and the world war. As a country at war, as a democratic state governed by the rule of law, Israel had to measure its military conduct against international law. At the same time, we must never forget who initiated the aggression: the militant Hamas, which does not care about human lives or international law. In light of the severe suffering experienced by Gaza’s civilian population, we also had to send signals.”[4]
German media broadly reported on precisely this balancing act. Tagesschau[5] highlighted the tension between historical responsibility and expectations under international law, while the Süddeutsche Zeitung[6] emphasized the open disagreement between Merz and Netanyahu concerning a two-state solution. Afterwards, Chancellor Merz thanked the US President for his peace initiative and stressed that Germany would support it. Hamas must play no role in Gaza’s future. A new order must emerge in which Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace.
Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked Chancellor Merz for his openness. He highlighted the various areas in which Germany and Israel can make joint progress through cooperation, including technological innovation and security, and pointed to the rise of global antisemitism. However, with regard to a two-state solution, Netanyahu contradicted the Chancellor. The Prime Minister openly and clearly rejected it. This difference was highlighted in German media, but played little role in Israeli reporting. Instead, Israeli outlets brought another moment of the press conference to the fore: at the very end, a journalist loudly asked without a microphone whether Netanyahu would retire if President Herzog pardoned him. Netanyahu replied curtly, “No.”[7] Many Israeli media made this scene the centerpiece of their reporting—an indication of how strongly domestically tinted fractures shaped perceptions of the visit.
In parallel, Israeli media such as the Jerusalem Post[8] emphasized the security partnership with Germany, particularly with regard to the Arrow-3 defense system stationed in Brandenburg. This was evaluated as a strategic turning point underscoring Israel’s contribution to European security. The Times of Israel[9] focused on Netanyahu’s remarks concerning phase two of the peace plan proposed by President Trump and its implications for the future of the Gaza Strip. Here, too, a shift in perspective became evident: while German reports concentrated primarily on Merz’s positions, Israeli media highlighted Netanyahu’s framing within the international diplomatic process.
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz succeeded in carrying out an inaugural visit that linked remembrance of historical guilt with the current partnership between the two countries, 60 years after the beginning of diplomatic relations. Although differences became clear, Merz made the following statement on the morning of 7 December at Yad Vashem:
“At Yad Vashem, in this place, one can grasp with one’s hands the enduring historical responsibility that Germany bears. Germany will therefore always stand for the existence and the security of Israel. This belongs to the immutable core of our relations. This applies today, it applies tomorrow, and it applies forever.”[10]
[1] FAZ, Das Wort Staatsräson fällt nicht, 7 December 2025
[2] Jüdische Allgemeine, Ein neuer Sound?, 7 December 2025
[3] German Federal Government, “Die Freundschaft zwischen Deutschland und Israel ist kostbar”, 7 December 2025
[4] German Federal Government, “Die Freundschaft zwischen Deutschland und Israel ist kostbar”, 7 December 2025
[5] Tagesschau, Vereint und doch uneins, 7 December 2025
[6] SZ, Eine halbe Stunde Qual, 7 December 2025
[7] For example: Israel Hayom, Netanjahu: Will not retire from politics in exchange for pardon, 7 December 2025; also in Haaretz and Maariv
[8] Jerusalem Post, Merz visit highlights new strategic, and strained, Germany-Israel bond – analysis, 7 December 2025
[9] Times of Israel, Netanyahu says phase one of Gaza truce ‘almost’ complete, alongside Germany’s Merz, 7 December 2025
[10] German Federal Government, “Die Freundschaft zwischen Deutschland und Israel ist kostbar”, 7 December 2025
