Germany’s Merz says there is no discussion of any visit by Netanyahu at the moment

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives for the cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

JERUSALEM - A possible visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Germany is currently not under discussion, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday.

“We did not discuss the possibility of Prime Minister Netanyahu traveling to Germany. There is no reason to discuss this at the moment,” Merz told reporters at a televised joint press conference marking his first visit to Israel as German chancellor.

“If time permits, I would issue such an invitation if appropriate. But this is not an issue for either of us at the present time.”

Netanyahu is currently facing an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

Reporting by Christoph Steitz in Frankfurt; editing by James Mackenzie.