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Netanyahu meets German opposition head, hails ‘special ties’ with Berlin

The Israeli premier called on Germany to help curb Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.

Netanyahu, Merz
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosts then-German opposition leader Friedrich Merz in Jerusalem, March 21, 2023. Photo by Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with German opposition leader Friedrich Merz in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

The two men focused on the countries’ “special relationship” and the potential for expanding ties in a range of areas, foremost security. They also discussed international issues, primarily the war in Ukraine.

Netanyahu called on Berlin to help curb the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and missile programs.

Among those participating in the meeting were Israeli National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi and German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert.

Last week, Netanyahu traveled to Berlin for a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

At a Holocaust memorial, the premier made an indirect reference to Israel’s efforts to prevent Iran from threatening the Jewish state with nuclear weapons.

“The calls to destroy the Jewish people have not ended. The main lesson we have learned is that when we are faced with such evil, we must stop the evil plans early to prevent a disaster,” said Netanyahu.

That legal threshold “requires enough support to have some meaningful impact on the terrorist organization’s ability to achieve its goals,” a dissenting Fourth Circuit judge wrote. “Selling a hot dog to a terrorist would not count.”
Israel’s foreign minister called it a historic day for ties between the two countries and an important day for the capital.
“I used to worry because they were black Jews, and I was more concerned that they were black,” Andrea Martin told JNS of her sons. “I never thought when I sent my kids away to college that Max would have to worry about hot coffee being poured on him in a library.”
“I am proud to lead a tremendous revolution in settlement in Judea and Samaria and to effectively kill the idea of a Palestinian state,” Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told JNS.