Currently Online 
German chancellor’s visit welcomed in Israel as opportunity to end international isolation
Israelis are welcoming the German chancellor’s visit as a sign that their country’s international isolation is beginning to lift, former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas has told Al Jazeera.
Friedrich Merz’s first visit since taking office is “viewed as an important visit somehow extricating Israel from this ring of isolation”, Pinkas, who is based in Tel Aviv, said. “I doubt that that is going to happen, but this is how it is viewed here.”
Pinkas said that while Germany remains a staunch Israeli supporter, compared with other European countries that have long been critical of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, the historical bond between the two countries was changing.
“We are seeing first signs that it is now OK to criticise Israel and have different political views,” he said. “I think once that crack is widened, you will see criticism in Germany in terms of how it relates to human rights.”
Merz, who has said he does not consider Israel’s actions in Gaza to be genocide, is scheduled to meet Netanyahu to discuss bilateral relations, the ceasefire in Gaza, and other matters.
His visit comes just days after Germany decided to lift a three-month suspension on arms exports to Israel that it said could be used in the Gaza Strip. Germany is Israel’s second-largest arms supplier after the US and its fifth-largest export partner, long standing as one of Israel’s staunchest supporters.
Germany remains supportive of Israel despite moderate criticism
Germany’s support for Israel is still very strong. During his visit to Israel, German Chancellor Merz signed a $4.5bn deal to buy Israeli weapons.
Merz’s visit is not without controversy, even in some quarters in Berlin. He is meeting Netanyahu, a man wanted by the ICC for potential involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Now, Germany is more interested in talking about the way forward in Gaza rather than what has happened in the past two years. Merz has talked about allowing more aid into Gaza and a commitment to the two-state solution, which Netanyahu and his government have repeatedly said they oppose.
He also talked against the annexation of the occupied West Bank, but those words really do not resonate on the ground. We just drove from Bethlehem to Ramallah, and what we saw is more expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and the roads on which settlers drive.
Israel might be facing criticism, but right now, that doesn’t translate into much.
Activists demonstrate in Berlin to condemn Israeli genocide
While the German chancellor is on a visit of Israel, activists in the German capital Berlin are holding a demonstration to condemn Israel’s ongoing genocidal war on Gaza, to demand a halt to arms exports to Israel and to express their support for Palestine.
Already censored: This Facebook post is no longer available. It may have been removed or the privacy settings of the post may have changed.
