Merz in Israel | Netanyahu: “The Iranian axis is destroyed”

Inaugural visit to Israel

Recognition of Palestine: That’s what Merz says

Should Palestine be recognized as a state? Both Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chancellor Merz commented on this issue – and tried to demonstrate unity.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken of “opportunities for peace” in the region, but at the same time continued to reject an independent Palestinian state. “The Iranian axis has been destroyed,” said Netanyahu after a meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) in Jerusalem, referring to the war in the region over the past two years.

“We believe there is a way to advance a more comprehensive peace with the Arab states and also a way to create a working peace with our Palestinian neighbors,” Netanyahu continued. “But we will not create a state on our doorstep that is committed to our destruction.”

Meanwhile, the Israeli army reported killing two Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Sunday. The army said the shots were fired after an attempted vehicle attack on Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint in Hebron. “A terrorist accelerated toward soldiers at a security checkpoint in Hebron. The soldiers responded by firing shots at the terrorist in the vehicle and he was eliminated,” according to the Israeli account. A second person was “involved,” but the army did not provide any further details.

According to Palestinian information, a 17-year-old and a 55-year-old were killed in the incident on Saturday evening. The older man worked in the healthcare sector. According to Israeli Army Radio, the elderly man was the one who was merely “involved” and was driving in a different vehicle than the attacker.

Merz said at the joint press conference with Netanyahu that they were “working towards the goal of a new Middle East.” A prospective founding of a Palestinian state alongside Israel would “probably offer the best prospect of this future.”

However, a two-state solution can only be achieved through negotiations and it will “stand at the end of these negotiations”. But such negotiations are “necessary right now”. Merz added that such a state has so far lacked all the prerequisites for it to be an independent state at all.

The two-state solution means that Israel and an independent Palestinian state exist peacefully side by side. Great Britain, France, Canada and many other countries have recognized the Palestinian territories as a state. This is primarily symbolic.

Netanyahu said the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan was “almost over” and that the body of a hostage was still in the Gaza Strip. Disarming the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas is a prerequisite for a peaceful settlement, he emphasized with a view to further action. The second phase of the ceasefire plan will be more difficult than the first.

Netanyahu also warned of a dangerous resurgence of anti-Semitism around the world. Despite Hamas’ atrocities against civilians on October 7, 2023, demonstrations in international capitals carried flags of the terrorist organization, he lamented. “This is outrageous.”