Germany on Friday issued a strong call for Israel to immediately halt settlement construction in the West Bank, signaling a diplomatic clash just days before Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s inaugural visit to the region.
- Berlin condemns settlement expansion as a violation of international law and a barrier to peace.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit Jordan and Israel this weekend to discuss the Gaza ceasefire.
- The German opposition Left Party has slammed the visit, citing the arrest warrant against Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Berlin’s Stance on International Law
Speaking at a press briefing in Berlin, government spokesman Sebastian Hille reiterated that Germany is closely monitoring developments on the ground. Hille emphasized that Israeli actions must comply with international legal provisions, explicitly condemning “massive violence perpetrated by settlers against Palestinian civilians.”
Hille warned that the continued expansion of settlements is viewed by Berlin as a significant obstacle to a negotiated two-state solution. “We reject any steps aimed at annexing the West Bank,” he stated, urging the Israeli government to cease these activities immediately in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.
Chancellor’s Itinerary and Domestic Backlash
Chancellor Merz is scheduled to travel to Jordan on Saturday for talks with King Abdullah II before heading to Israel on Sunday. The high-level meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to focus on stabilizing the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
However, the trip has drawn sharp criticism from domestic opposition. The Left Party (Die Linke) condemned Merz’s decision to meet with Netanyahu given the legal context surrounding the Israeli leadership.
“Merz’s trip to Israel is a declaration of war on international law,” said Left Party co-chair Jan van Aken. “He is meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu even though there is an international arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes.”
Van Aken further described the resumption of German arms deliveries to Israel as a “political scandal,” arguing that Berlin should not supply weapons unless the Israeli government publicly commits to a political solution involving a separate Palestinian state.
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