Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar recently travelled to Berlin for discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Israel and Germany. During his visit, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that recognising a Palestinian state at this time would send “the wrong signal,” adding that negotiations between Israel and Palestine must be concluded before any recognition takes place.
Wadephul also emphasised that the European Union should maintain its Association Agreement with Israel, which has governed political and economic ties since 2000. This comes as the European Commission is currently reviewing the agreement in light of the situation in Gaza.
He made these remarks on Thursday during a press conference in Berlin alongside the visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.
The German minister, who visited Israel three weeks ago on his first foreign trip since his nomination, stressed that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas and other adversaries. “Therefore, Germany will, of course, continue to support Israel with arms deliveries; that was never in doubt,” he said.
Wadephul also mentioned that the new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who is currently in Washington for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, plans to visit Israel later this year.
On X, Sa’ar wrote: “I thank my friend German Foreign Minister for his warm hospitality and for the good discussions in Berlin today. We discussed a wide range of issues – global, regional, European and bilateral. Germany is a close, strategic ally of Israel and we will continue strengthening this friendship!”
Earlier, the two ministers visited Berlin’s Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, where Sa’ar condemned antisemitism in Europe and reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defence.
