President Isaac Herzog welcomes German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on first official visit to Israel
Visit comes shortly after Israel and Germany closed important Arrow-3 defense deal
President Isaac Herzog welcomed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Israel on Saturday evening on his first visit to Israel as Chancellor of Germany.
Merz is the first major European head of state to visit Israel since the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire. His visit comes just after the announcement of the handing over of the Israeli Arrow-3 missile defense system to be integrated into Germany’s air defense network. This took place on the 60th anniversary of German-Israeli relations.
I was glad to welcome the Chancellor of Germany @_FriedrichMerz on his first visit to Israel as Chancellor.
— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) December 6, 2025
The Chancellor is a friend of Israel and Germany is an important partner.
Relations between the countries are on an upward trend.
This trend is reflected in the removal of… pic.twitter.com/Qj5mwZEkAE
Ahead of their meeting, the two leaders made brief statements to the media.
Herzog welcomed Merz, using the formal German title, “Welcome Herr Kanzler. Thank you very much for visiting us.”
Noting that the visit marks Merz’ first visit to Israel as German Chancellor, Herzog spoke of the friendship between the two states, exemplified by the sale of the defense system.
“This is your first visit to Israel as the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, a great friend of Israel,” Herzog said. “We mark 60 years of relations between Israel and Germany, which bear an incredibly important and moving history and many challenges. We have become very close friends, and for me to see the Arrow 3 missiles being installed in Germany to defend Germany and Europe, Israeli-made products, is something very unique and moving and important.”
The president also spoke of the Gaza Peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and UN Resolution 2803, saying that Hamas must be removed from Gaza to guarantee “a new horizon to the people of Gaza and the people of Israel.”
“You are coming here following the very unique, important, and historic UN Security Council Resolution, which calls for the day after in Gaza and in the region, which was led and crafted by President Trump and his team. It is clear that in order to move to the next stage, we must make sure that Hamas and its capabilities are removed from Gaza and offer a horizon to the region, a new horizon to the region, a new horizon to the people of Gaza and the people of Israel, a new horizon to Israel and its Palestinian neighbors, and Israel and its Arab neighbors.”
In closing, Herzog said that, “Germany has a huge role to play, both in Europe and as a very important country in the world.”
Chancellor Merz thanked Herzog for his welcome, saying, “Thank you very much, Mr. President, for the invitation and the very warm welcome. I come as a friend."
Saying that “this is the first time I come in my capacity as Federal Chancellor,” Merz also stated, “I come as a longstanding friend of Israel.”
Merz acknowledged the difficult situation Israel was in following the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.
“We couldn't meet in more challenging and more complicated times, and you know that Germany firmly stands at Israel's side, especially since the horrific attack perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023,” Merz said.
Before addressing some of the recent disagreements regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Merz spoke of the “miracle” of the German-Israeli friendship.
“Since then, we were able to deepen and further intensify our friendship, and you know that we will always stand by Israel's side,” Merz continued. “We still consider this friendship a miracle. So shortly after the Shoah (Holocaust) to be able to establish diplomatic relations and further continue to deepen and foster our friendship is very special and important to us indeed.”
“Now, the military actions and the government's actions confronted us with a dilemma,” Merz acknowledged. “We had to react to it, but rest assured that we are still on your side. Israel has the right to defend itself and has the right to exist. We stand with Israel in its right to exist, and we support you in your endeavors.”
Germany placed an arms embargo on Israel after reports of a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip due to the war effort. That embargo was only lifted after the Gaza ceasefire deal was signed.
The German chancellor promised, “We are going to help you as peace and the negotiations enter into a next phase.”
He also affirmed the need for Hamas to disarm, saying, “The war is going to end as soon as Hamas has laid down all its arms, the war will end, and then we will look into the future.”
Merz reiterated the European commitment to the two-state solution, saying, “the two-state solution is an important factor for good coexistence between Israel and the Palestinians, and the Israeli people, the Palestinian people, and the Arab world, for it to be able to live peacefully in peace and security and in dignity.”
Before departing Germany for Israel, Merz also called on the Palestinian Authority to enact “urgently necessary reforms,” so that it can “play a constructive role in a post-war order.”
“I am fully aware of the responsibility we bear as Germany, as a German Chancellor,” Merz told Herzog. “It's an honor and a privilege to be here, and let me assure you that standing with Israel is part of our core DNA and our policies to support and stand with it, with Israel. Thank you, and I look forward to our discussion.”
Merz is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later on Sunday, after which, the two will hold a press conference.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
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