United in Genocide: German Chancellor Visits Wanted War Criminal

On December 7th, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz travelled to Israel to visit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, against whom the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant last year based on investigations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

At the joint press conference between Merz and Netanyahu on December 7, Merz reiterated the phrase “peace in the Middle East.” Merz also called for a “new Middle East” where Israel is recognized. Standing next to a genocidal war criminal, Merz further stated that: “We are convinced that the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel probably offers the best prospects for this future.” Adding that a two-state solution can only be achieved through negotiations.

Over the last two years of genocide in Gaza, the ruling German class digs up the so-called two-state solution as an abstract mantra in order to convey the image that they, despite militarily, politically, and ideologically supporting the Zionist settler colonial project between the river and the sea, are also interested in “peace.” Drawing on the two-state solution serves as a safety net of sorts, which requires no change in policy but instead operates as a smoke screen for Germany’s complicity in genocide. That the two-state solution is not only a colonial injustice to the Palestinians but that it is clinically dead was made crystal clear by Netanyahu’s remarks following Merz: Israel will not accept a Palestinian state.

Merz, still standing next to a wanted war criminal, replied that Germany stands on the side of Israel “due to its history” and that Israel must respect International Law in its military actions. Another empty phrase, as Germany continues to deliver over 30% of weapons to Israel, which have been used for genocide in Gaza.

Just last week, the German state put into operation the first phase of the Israeli-made Arrow missile defence shield. Al Jazeera reports that: “The $4.5bn deal was reportedly the largest arms export agreement in Israeli history, and Berlin has also turned to Israeli firms for help in drone defence.”

During his trip to Israel, Merz did not invite Netanyahu to Germany, although during his campaign trail earlier this year, the Christian Conservative had boasted that he would invite Netanyahu to Germany, despite the ICC arrest warrant.

After the October 2025 so-called ceasefire agreement, Merz declared that: “There is now no reason anymore for Palestinians to demonstrate in the streets.” The concept of internationalist solidarity seems to be a foreign term for the Chancellor, as the movement against the Zionist genocide and for a free Palestine in Germany is led by diverse coalitions.

The German state’s continuing support for the genocidal Israeli state has been accompanied by massive repression and criminalization against the pro-Palestine movement in Germany. Despite the ongoing war propaganda by the ruling parties and the media apparatuses, 59% of people in Germany believe that what Israel is doing in Gaza amounts to genocide, while 80% of people in Germany are against Israel’s actions in Gaza. This is in stark contrast to the ruling parties and media, where calling the genocide in Gaza a genocide is decried as “antisemitic”, while innumerable people have lost their jobs, faced police violence, house raids, and been subjected to smear campaigns for voicing opposition to the Gaza genocide.

What the German state fears most is that passive solidarity will turn into active solidarity that questions its imperialist interests in the Middle East. It fears that the masses will take to the streets to demand an end to German support for genocide in Palestine.

Now that the hypocrisy of the German ruling class is crystal clear and more and more people are against Germany’s support for Israel, we must continue to fight to transform passive solidarity for Palestine into active solidarity for Palestine. Demanding a weapons embargo against Israel is one crucial point that can be rallied around, and which many Palestine solidarity groups have been pushing for. This means: an end to all arms and military deliveries from Germany to Israel. As well as an end to the purchase of weapons systems from Israel to Germany. Furthermore, we must demand a transition from military and weapons production to civilian production. In light of Germany’s heightened militarization, this means: No social cuts for war, but money for social infrastructure, schools, public transport, not for the armament policy of Germany and NATO.