German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Yad Vashem, Israel’s official Holocaust memorial. Accompanied by Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan, the visit included a tour of the Holocaust History Museum, the Book of Names, the Children’s Memorial, and a memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance.
During his visit, Merz said:”I bow before the six million men, women, and children from all across Europe who were murdered by Germans because they were Jews.”
He also signed the Yad Vashem guestbook, reading aloud his inscription:”I bow my head in deference to the six million men, women, and children from all over Europe who were murdered by Germans because they were Jewish. We will ensure that the memory of the heinous crime of the Shoah perpetrated against the Jewish people is kept alive. Here, at Yad Vashem, Germany’s enduring historical responsibility becomes palpable. Germany must stand up for the existence and security of Israel. This will forever be inextricably woven into the fabric of our relationship.”
Chairman Dayan remarked: “Our peoples and institutions share a solemn duty to acknowledge, remember, confront the truth, and guard the memory of the Shoah with integrity. Within that broader responsibility, you and I, in the roles entrusted to us, carry our part in ensuring that this memory is preserved honestly and courageously.
“This duty is especially urgent today, as we witness renewed attempts across Europe and the world to distort, minimize, or weaponize the Shoah. Such efforts—whether by obscuring historical facts, shifting responsibility, or inverting the culprits—are disturbingly reminiscent of patterns we hoped were long behind us. They remind us that the lessons preserved here must remain a living warning.”
Merz reaffirmed Berlin’s support for Israel, stating:”Germany must stand up for the existence and security of Israel,” acknowledging his country’s “enduring historical responsibility” for the mass extermination of Jews during World War II.
He added:”I consider it a great honour and a truly great distinction to be here and to reaffirm that standing by this country is and will remain the unchanging core principle of the Federal Republic of Germany’s policy.”
Following his visit to Yad Vashem, Merz met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Their expanded bilateral talks included senior Israeli defense and foreign policy officials, as well as German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert.
At a joint press conference, Netanyahu praised the shared defense cooperation between the two countries, 80 years after the Holocaust, and discussed ways to continue and strengthen this partnership. He highlighted the technological alliance, saying:”Working together, we can not only better the lives of citizens in Israel and Germany, but I think we can better the world and our immediate neighborhood, the Middle East.”
The discussions also covered peace opportunities, ending Hamas rule in Gaza, and deradicalizing the region’s population.
Following the meeting, Merz posted on X:”I wish for the Israeli people that, after years of terror and war, a better time will dawn. Decisions must be made that lead to peace and good neighbourly relations. Germany will stand by your side in friendship. After the traumas of war, we must lay the foundation for a new order, aiming for a Middle East in which the State of Israel is fully recognized.”
Merz was hosted by Israeli President Isaac Herzog at his official residence, where Herzog called the two countries “true friends” and strategic allies. He emphasized the importance of implementing President Trump’s plan approved by the UN Security Council, the removal and disarmament of Hamas in Gaza, and the release of the last remaining Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili.
