German Opposition Condemns Merz’s Planned Visit to Israel
Left Party co-chair Jan van Aken declared in Berlin that “Merz's trip to Israel is a declaration of war on international law. He is meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu even though there is an international arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes.
A meeting with an alleged war criminal is not a normal state visit.”
He further insisted that the restart of German arms shipments to Israel represented “a political scandal,” arguing that Berlin ought to halt such supplies as long as the Israeli administration does not openly endorse a diplomatic outcome involving a distinct Palestinian state.
Merz is preparing to embark on his first official visit to Israel this weekend, with the encounter with Netanyahu arranged for Sunday.
Their discussions are expected to center on matters including efforts to reinforce the current ceasefire in Gaza.
A long-standing and unwavering supporter of Israel, the chancellor has consistently underscored Germany’s historic obligation to safeguard Israel’s security, a responsibility rooted in the country’s Nazi-era crimes and the Holocaust.
Although Merz expressed disapproval of Israel’s later-stage military operations in Gaza and urged the Israeli government to permit additional humanitarian relief into the territory, he has resisted demands from opposition legislators for an arms embargo, dismissed calls to freeze the EU-Israel trade pact, and opposed the immediate recognition of a Palestinian state.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.