German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s upcoming visit to Israel has sparked intense criticism at home, with the opposition party Die Linke accusing him of openly disregarding international law by meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Last year, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice. Against this backdrop, Merz’s planned trip has reignited political debate across Germany.
Jan van Aken, deputy chair of Die Linke, said, “Meeting with someone accused of war crimes is not a normal state visit—it is a declaration of war on international law.” He also condemned the German government’s decision to resume arms supplies to Israel, calling it a “political scandal.”
Van Aken argued that Germany should suspend arms deliveries until Israel publicly endorses a political solution that includes a sovereign Palestinian state.
Merz is expected to meet Netanyahu on Sunday to discuss the Gaza war and a range of bilateral issues. The Chancellor has long expressed steadfast support for Israel, repeatedly invoking Germany’s “historic responsibility” rooted in its Nazi past and the Holocaust.
Despite widespread public criticism in Germany over the Gaza conflict, Merz has rejected opposition calls for an arms embargo. He has similarly opposed suspending the EU–Israel trade agreement and continues to resist recognizing a Palestinian state.
Merz’s upcoming visit, therefore, is far more than a diplomatic engagement—it underscores the growing political divide within Germany over its stance on Israel.