Friedrich Merz

Germany's shift: Moral commitment vs political reality - opinion

The the ongoing war in Gaza has reinvigorated Germany’s internal debate: Can abstract moral universality be reconciled with particular responsibility to the Jewish people?

|ByILAN MOR
GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER Johann Wadephul speaks at a news conference at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem last month. Germany raises its voice not because it forgot its past but because it remembers it, says the writer.
(L-R) Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and France's President Emmanuel Macron at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit in The Hague on June 25, 2025

UK, France Palestinian state recognition part of joint peace plan in works for months - report

Sources familiar with the details told the New York Times that France's Macron intended to recognize a Palestinian state due to immense internal pressure.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
THE ANNOUNCEMENT by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to suspend arms deliveries to Israel has unleashed quite a storm at home, says the writer.

German halt to arms support to Israel is a blunder - opinion

The announcement by Chancellor Friedrich Merz was met with swift backlash from Jewish organizations.

|ByPAUSHALI LASS
Norway's Air Force F-16 fighters (R) and Italy's Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighters patrol over the Baltics during a NATO air policing mission from Zokniai air base near Siauliai, Lithuania, May 20, 2015.

Germany prepares huge orders for jets, armored vehicles, sources say

The purchases are part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s push to build Europe’s most powerful conventional army, aiming to reduce reliance on an increasingly unpredictable ally, the United States.

|ByREUTERS

Germany's Merz spoke with Trump about buying Patriots for Ukraine

Merz initiated the call with Trump to promote arms deliveries to Ukraine, particularly Patriots, after the Pentagon paused some shipments.

JULY 4, 2025ByREUTERS
Soldiers stand during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit to a military training area to find out about the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the “Patriot” anti-aircraft missile system, at an undisclosed location, in Germany, June 11, 2024.

Germany is '100% behind Israel,' minister vows at site of Iranian strike on Bat Yam

Dobrindt visited the site with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, where he said there is no justification for attacks on civilian populations.

JUNE 29, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa'ar visit the scene where a ballistic missile fired from Iran hit and caused damage in Bat Yam, central Israel. June 29, 2025.

Israel does the dirty work – and Europe fires back with sanctions - opinion

While Israel is fighting a war for its survival, Europe is distracting it on two levels - on the leadership level and on the people's level.

JUNE 24, 2025ByGOL KALEV
ON DAY ONE, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled Israel’s operation in Iran ‘concerning,’ characterized it as an escalation, and urged ‘all parties to step back and reduce tensions,’ the writer notes.

Germany's Merz sees no reason to criticize Israeli, US attacks on Iran

"There is no reason for us to criticize what Israel started a week ago, nor is there any reason to criticize what America did last weekend," Merz said. NATO's Rutte defended the US's attack as well.

JUNE 23, 2025ByREUTERS
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks during an industrial sector association BDI event in Berlin, Germany, June 23, 2025.

Germany's Merz urges moderation in call with Netanyahu, source says

Germany plans to host nuclear talks with its European partners and the Iranian foreign minister at its permanent representation in Geneva.

JUNE 19, 2025ByREUTERS
Benjamin Netanyahu (R) hosts then-German Leader of the Opposition, Friedrich Merz, (L) in Jerusalem, February 12, 2024.

Merz: 'Israel is doing the dirty work for all of us by striking Iran, lacks necessary weapons'

German Chancellor Merz has praised Israel for doing the 'dirty work' for everyone, but said that Israel also lacked the necessary weapons.

JUNE 17, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
German conservative candidate for chancellor and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party leader Friedrich Merz attends a press conference following the German general election in Berlin, Germany, February 24, 2025.