German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on Saturday after arriving in Jerusalem that supporting Israel is a fundamental part of Germany’s policy.
He described his presence in Jerusalem as “a great honor” and said his visit aims to reaffirm that standing by Israel is “the essential and unwavering core” of the Federal Republic of Germany’s policy and will remain so.
Merz had previously angered Israeli authorities in August when he imposed a partial ban on German arms exports to Israel in response to the Gaza offensive. The ban was lifted at the end of November following a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Commenting on the matter, Merz said: “The actions of the Israeli army in Gaza posed certain dilemmas for us, and we responded to them.” He added: “We also found that, fundamentally, there is no real divergence between us.”
The Chancellor stressed: “Israel has the right to defend itself, as this is the only way to secure its right to exist.”
Sources - Agencies
