German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirmed Berlin's support for Israel during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem on Sunday before talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Merz flew into Israel the day before for his first trip to the country since traditionally solid ties between the two nations were shaken by the Gaza war.

During the visit to Yad Vashem, Merz said "Germany must stand up for the existence and security of Israel," after acknowledging his country's "enduring historical responsibility" for the mass extermination of Jews during the Second World War.

The German leader arrived on Saturday was met at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who called Merz "a friend of Israel". He then met Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem the same day.

"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," Merz said.

Given the legacy of Nazi Germany's industrial-scale murder of Jews, German leaders have long seen unflinching support........

© Al Monitor