German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s first official visit to Israel, which took place on December 7, 2025, unfolded against a backdrop of deepening regional conflict and diplomatic strain. The trip, marked by a high-profile meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, cast a spotlight on the evolving relationship between the two nations—one rooted in history, but now tested by the ongoing war in Gaza and diverging visions for peace in the Middle East.
Merz’s arrival in Israel was anything but routine. The German chancellor, who took office seven months prior, landed at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport and was greeted by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who described Merz as “a friend of Israel.” That evening, Merz met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem before beginning a packed itinerary that would include both diplomatic talks and symbolic gestures of remembrance.
One of Merz’s first stops was the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, a visit laden with historical significance. Standing amidst the solemnity of the memorial, Merz reiterated Germany’s enduring responsibility for the Holocaust and its unwavering commitment to Israel’s security. “Germany must stand up for the existence and security of Israel,” he said, acknowledging the shadow cast by his country’s past and the moral imperative it creates for present-day policy.
The chancellor’s visit came just after a Gaza ceasefire, but the war’s devastation was still a raw wound. According to Al Jazeera, Merz’s trip was “playing out under the shadow of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza”—a description he notably declined to endorse, even as criticism of Israel’s military campaign mounted at home and abroad. In August 2025, Germany, Israel’s second-largest arms supplier after the United States, had restricted weapons sales destined for Gaza, citing the worsening toll on civilians. This marked a rare public rebuke from Berlin, as Merz stated his government could “no longer ignore” the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
Yet, the freeze was short-lived. Just two weeks before Merz’s visit, Germany lifted the arms restrictions and, in a move that underscored the enduring strength of the bilateral relationship, signed a $4.5 billion deal for an Israeli-made missile defense shield. As reported by Al Jazeera, this was the largest arms export agreement in Israeli history. At the joint press conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu called the deal a “historical change” in the relationship: “Not only does Germany work in the defence of Israel, but Israel, the Jewish state, 80 years after the Holocaust, works for the defence of Germany.”
The diplomatic heart of the visit, however, was the joint press conference between Merz and Netanyahu. The two leaders presented sharply contrasting visions for the future of the region. Merz reaffirmed Germany’s support for the creation of a Palestinian state, arguing, “Our conviction is that the prospective establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel presumably offers the best prospect for this future.” Still, he was quick to clarify that Berlin would not recognize such a state “in the foreseeable future,” emphasizing, “The German federal government remains of the opinion that recognition of a Palestinian state should come at the end – not the beginning – of such a process (peace negotiations).”
This position places Germany at odds with several other European powers, including France, Spain, and the United Kingdom, who have recently moved to formally recognize Palestinian statehood. Merz’s insistence on sequencing—recognition only after peace talks succeed—reflects a longstanding German caution, rooted in both diplomatic calculation and domestic political realities.
Netanyahu, for his part, was unequivocal in his rejection of the two-state solution. “The purpose of a Palestinian state is to destroy the Jewish state,” he declared, offering no further elaboration. The Israeli premier also addressed the ongoing implementation of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, asserting that the first phase was nearly complete and that “very important conversations” would be held at the end of December to ensure the second phase would proceed. Netanyahu also revealed plans to meet Trump later in the month to discuss next steps.
Despite the diplomatic theater, the visit was not without controversy. Back in Germany, opposition politicians and activists criticized Merz for meeting with a leader facing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Demonstrators in Berlin condemned Israel’s military campaign, called for a halt to arms exports, and rallied in support of Palestinian rights. According to Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, “The visit itself is quite controversial given that Germany is a member of the International Criminal Court and is obliged to hand over Netanyahu to the court, not meet with him.”
Merz addressed the issue of a reciprocal visit directly, telling reporters, “We did not discuss the possibility of Prime Minister Netanyahu travelling to Germany. There is no reason to discuss this at the moment. If time permits, I would issue such an invitation if appropriate. But this is not an issue for either of us at the present time.” Earlier in the year, Merz had assured Netanyahu that he would not face arrest if he visited Germany, but the topic remained off the table during this trip.
The controversy over arms sales and diplomatic engagement has exposed rifts within Germany as well as between Germany and its European partners. While some German officials and much of the public have expressed unease at the country’s military support for Israel during the Gaza war, the government’s core policy remains unchanged. As Odeh observed, “The Israeli political system … understands that even that criticism … doesn’t really amount to much in terms of policy,” describing Berlin as “a brick wall at the European Union against any criticism, any action, any sanctions against Israel.”
Despite the strains, the core of the German-Israeli relationship endures. Germany’s support for Israel, shaped by the legacy of the Holocaust and enshrined as a tenet of its foreign policy, remains robust, even as the two countries occasionally clash over tactics and timing. The resumption of arms exports and the record-breaking missile defense deal signal a partnership that, while challenged by current events, is anchored in history and mutual security interests.
As the region awaits the next phase of the Gaza plan and European capitals debate the path to peace, Merz’s visit has underscored both the limits and the possibilities of diplomacy. For now, Germany’s stance is clear: support for Israel is unwavering, but the road to a two-state solution remains long and fraught with obstacles.
