Merz reaffirms Germany's support for Israel

CHANCELLOR Friedrich Merz flew into Israel at the weekend for his first visit since taking office, and reaffirmed Berlin's support after traditionally solid ties between the countries were shaken by the Gaza war.

- 

GERMAN Chancellor Friedrich Merz, left, meets with Israel's President Isaac Herzog at the president's residence in Jerusalem.

(AFP)

Merz landed at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport just before 8pm and was met by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who called him “a friend of Israel”. Germany, he added, was “an important partner”.

Merz met Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem at the weekend.

“I consider it a great honour and a truly great distinction to be here and to reaffirm that standing by this country is and will remain the unchanging core principle of the Federal Republic of Germany's policy,’ said Merz.

Merz held talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II during a brief stopover there. Their discussions focused largely on the fragile peace process in Israel and the Palestinian territories, he told reporters.