Merz to invite Netanyahu to Germany despite arrest warrant

Last Updated on February 26, 2025 6:41 am

Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative CDU party and winner of the German election, wants to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to an official visit to Germany. Although the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, reports Deutsche Welle.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said he (Netanyahu) had a “warm conversation” with the potential German chancellor. Netanyahu congratulated him on his success.

A post on the Prime Minister’s Office’s X (formerly Twitter) account said that potential Chancellor Merz thanked the Prime Minister (Netanyahu) in the conversation and said that he would invite him for an official visit to Germany. This is a clear contradiction of the International Criminal Court’s decision to indict Netanyahu as a “war criminal”.

A CDU spokesman confirmed to Reuters and DPA that the two spoke by phone after the election. However, he declined to comment on the substance of the conversation.

Two weeks ago, Merz told the German-Jewish newspaper Judische Allgemeine that he would invite Netanyahu as soon as he won the election. He said that under his leadership, the Israeli prime minister would be able to travel to Germany without any obstacles.