What's happened
German leader Friedrich Merz visited Israel and Jordan amid ongoing Gaza conflict, reaffirming support for Israel while navigating strained relations over arms exports and Netanyahu's ICC arrest warrant. The trip highlights Germany's balancing act between historical responsibility and current geopolitical interests.
What's behind the headline?
Merz's visit underscores Germany's complex position in Middle Eastern diplomacy. While reaffirming support for Israel, Merz's measured criticism of Israel's Gaza campaign and the recent arms export restrictions reveal internal tensions. The visit aims to restore Germany's image as a reliable partner, but Israel's continued settlement expansion and violations of ceasefire agreements complicate this effort. The presence of an ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu further adds diplomatic sensitivity. Germany's strategic interests in defense technology and regional stability drive its engagement, but the relationship remains fragile. The visit signals an attempt to reassert influence and support, yet underlying disagreements over Gaza and Palestinian statehood persist, foreshadowing ongoing diplomatic challenges.
What the papers say
Al Jazeera reports that Merz's trip is a significant diplomatic gesture, emphasizing Germany's support for Israel despite recent strains over Gaza. The articles highlight Merz's visit as a balancing act, reaffirming historical commitments while navigating contemporary conflicts. The Times of Israel notes the strategic importance of Germany's military ties, including recent arms deals like the Arrow 3 missile system, and the political implications of Merz's meetings with Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders. The New Arab and France 24 emphasize the controversy surrounding Merz's meeting with Netanyahu, given the ICC arrest warrant and accusations of war crimes, with critics condemning the visit as normalization of war crimes. The coverage illustrates a broader debate: Germany's historical responsibility versus its current geopolitical interests, with some critics viewing the trip as a problematic endorsement of Netanyahu's government amidst ongoing violence.
How we got here
Germany's support for Israel is rooted in historical guilt over the Holocaust and a longstanding policy of unwavering backing. Recent events, including Israel's military actions in Gaza and the suspension and subsequent lifting of arms exports, have tested this relationship. Merz's visit follows a period of diplomatic strain, with Germany balancing its support for Israel and criticism over its Gaza campaign.
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More on these topics
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Friedrich Merz is a German lawyer and politician. A member of the Christian Democratic Union, he served as a Member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 1994 and was elected to the Bundestag from 1994 until 2009, where he chaired the CDU/CSU parliament
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Mahmoud Abbas, also known by the kunya Abu Mazen, is the President of the State of Palestine and Palestinian National Authority.
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Isaac 'Bougie' Herzog is an Israeli politician. He served as a member of the Knesset between 2003 and 2018 and held several ministerial posts, including Minister of Welfare and Social Services.
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Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe. Covering an area of 357,022 square kilometres, it lies between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south.
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Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is an Arab country in Western Asia, on the East Bank of the Jordan River. Jordan is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and the east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and Israel and Palestine
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Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein has been King of Jordan since 7 February 1999. As a member of the Hashemite dynasty, the royal family of Jordan since 1921, Abdullah is a 41st-generation direct descendant of Muhammad.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.