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ConflictsIsrael

Merz visits Yad Vashem, meets Netanyahu

Jessica Saltz
December 7, 2025

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made his first official visit to Israel. During a joint press conference with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he described the establishment of a Palestinian state as a basic premise for peace in the region.

https://p.dw.com/p/54ua0

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, reaffirming Germany's historic responsibility and commitment to Israel's security. His first trip to Israel came after a Gaza ceasefire and amid strained ties over the war. Merz backed a two-state solution, diverging from Prime Minister Netanyahu's stance, as both countries navigate peace talks and regional tensions.