Germany would likely withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is banned from participating, the country's chancellor, Friedrich Merz, told Israeli President Isaac Herzog in a phone call on Monday.
"I will do what I can to prevent steps against Israel," he stated. "As I said on German television, I cannot imagine that Germany would participate if the Israeli delegation is expelled. That is very clear to me."
The German leader also expressed his condolences to Herzog on the upcoming two-year anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attacks in southern Israel, when the terrorist group murdered around 1,200 people and took around 250 hostage.
Spoken with the prime minister one day prior
Merz had already spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, where he "expressed support for US President Donald Trump's peace plan," according to a statement from the government. The German leader reiterated Berlin's endorsement of the 20-point peace plan with Herzog and the return of the remaining 48 hostages. He also added that he hosted a meeting with hostage families.
Trump's plan "could change the face of the entire region," he said.
Both leaders spoke on the phone as German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul was visiting Israel.
The talks between German and Israeli officials come days after Mossad and the European country's domestic intelligence service (BFV) conducted a joint operation to arrest three members of a terrorist cell in Berlin with suspected links to Hamas.
“The arrest of the cell members was made possible thanks to close cooperation between the Mossad for Intelligence and Special Operations and the security and intelligence forces in Germany,” the PMO announced.