German Chancellor Merz Visits Israel on Gaza, Peace Talks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Israel on Saturday for his first official visit since taking office in May, meeting with top Israeli leaders to discuss bilateral relations, the Gaza ceasefire and regional peace efforts. The two-day trip, which included stops in Jordan, underscored Germany's longstanding commitment to Israel's security amid ongoing tensions over the conflict in Gaza.

Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union, landed at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, where he was greeted by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. Saar described Germany as an important partner and highlighted the upward trend in relations, including the recent lifting of partial arms export restrictions and Germany's abstention from extending the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees. Later that evening, Merz met Israeli President Isaac Herzog at his residence in Jerusalem. Herzog emphasized the need to implement former U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, approved by the UN Security Council, and called for Hamas to be removed from Gaza, disarmed and to release remaining hostages. Merz responded on social media,...