German Chancellor Merz visits 'Israel' to restore strained ties

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz begins his first visit to 'Israel', aiming to restore strained ties.
• Merz met King Abdullah II in Jordan before flying to Jerusalem for talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in 'Israel' on Saturday for his first official visit since taking office, seeking to reaffirm traditionally strong bilateral ties that were strained during last year’s Gaza genocide.

Before heading to 'Israel', Merz stopped in Jordan to meet with King Abdullah II, holding discussions on regional stability. He is scheduled to meet 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Sunday and will also visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, a key symbol of Germany’s historical responsibility toward the Jewish people.

German-'Israeli' relations have long been shaped by the legacy of the Holocaust, with German leaders maintaining steadfast support for 'Israel' as a cornerstone of their foreign policy. However, Merz’s criticism of 'Israel’s' military campaign in Gaza, which followed October 7, 2023, caused temporary strains in ties.

Merz also imposed restrictions on German weapons exports to Gaza during the genocide, which were later lifted following a US-backed ceasefire and prisoner swap deal.

In conversations before his departure from Berlin, Merz spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, reaffirming German support for a two-state solution while urging Abbas to implement reforms to help the PA play a constructive role in the postwar landscape.

Analysts note that 'Israel' expects a “signal of continued support” from the German chancellor amid lingering tensions. Michael Rimmel of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation commented that while relations have been strained, they remain “better than many people think,” though Berlin’s influence on Netanyahu’s government is limited.

Critics, however, argue that Merz’s visit may be seen as legitimizing Netanyahu’s hard-right government. Gil Shohat of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation described the trip as “a fatal sign of normalisation” amid ongoing allegations of war crimes in Gaza.

Despite these political debates, military and defense cooperation between the two countries remains robust. Germany recently activated the first phase of 'Israel’s' Arrow missile defense system under a USD 4.5 billion deal, reportedly the largest arms export in 'Israeli' history. Berlin also continues to rely on 'Israeli' technology for drone defense, illustrating the strategic depth of bilateral ties.