Meretz: Support for Israel is a Stable Pillar in Germany's Policy

SadaNews - German Chancellor Friedrich Meretz stated upon his arrival in occupied Jerusalem that support for Israel - which he is visiting for the first time since being chosen as chancellor - is an essential part of Germany's policy.

The chancellor described his presence in Jerusalem as "a great honor" and said that his visit aims to "renew the confirmation that standing by this country is the core and steady foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany's policy, and it will remain so."

Meretz elicited discontent from Israeli authorities with his decision in August to impose a partial ban on German arms exports to Israel in response to the genocide campaign in Gaza, before lifting this ban at the end of November after a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Meretz commented on this, saying, "The actions of the Israeli military in Gaza posed some dilemmas for us (...) and we responded to them," adding, "We also found that until now, there is basically no distance between us."

He affirmed that "Israel has the right to defend itself because it is the only way to ensure Israel's right to exist."

The German chancellor is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this morning, Sunday, and his visit to Israel is considered an important event for Tel Aviv amid the international isolation that Netanyahu faces due to the massacres and genocide perpetrated by the occupation army in the Gaza Strip over the past two years.

Meretz and Netanyahu are expected to discuss efforts to move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, about two months after it went into effect.

Before his visit to Israel, Meretz urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to implement "necessary and urgent reforms" within the authority in order to "play a constructive role" in the Gaza Strip after the war.

In a phone conversation with President Abbas, Meretz also condemned "the massive increase in settlers' violence against Palestinian civilians" in the occupied West Bank, according to the German government's spokesman Stefan Cornelius.

Previously, Meretz had visited Jordan, where he had discussions with King Abdullah II.

He stated in a remark to reporters that the meeting mainly addressed the fragile peace process in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

For his part, a statement from the Jordanian royal court indicated that the King of Jordan emphasized the necessity of "committing to implementing the agreement to end the war in all its phases and delivering humanitarian aid."