Netanyahu meets German FM as Herzog departs for Berlin

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Sunday with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, as Israel and Germany mark 60 years of diplomatic relations.

“I’m pleased to welcome here the Foreign Minister of Germany,” Netanyahu said at the start of the meeting. “We’ve had excellent relations, and we’ll continue them in this conversation. We have a lot of common interest, a lot of common values and a lot of common challenges. I’m sure that as we proceed, we’ll make our partnership even stronger.”

Netanyahu also sent well wishes to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, saying, “I send my best wishes to Friedrich Merz and to your effort to continue with the German-Israel alliance.”

Wadephul, in turn, emphasized the significance of the occasion: “Thank you so much, Prime Minister, for having me and of course, my delegation. It’s a privilege to be here, on the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries. Great to be here.”

Among those present at the meeting were National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi, Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor and German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert, as well as various senior members of Netanyahu’s staff.

Meanwhile, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog departed for Berlin on Sunday to begin a state visit at the invitation of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The historic trip is part of a week-long exchange between the two nations to commemorate six decades of formal ties.

During the May 11–13 visit, Herzog is scheduled to meet with Steinmeier, Merz, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner and other senior officials. He will also attend a ceremony at Platform 17 in Berlin-Grunewald, a Holocaust deportation site, where the two presidents will participate in a joint memorial service.

“This state visit marks a significant milestone in the relationship between the two countries and reflects a shared commitment to deepening friendship and strategic partnership,” Herzog’s office stated.

Later this week, Steinmeier is expected to return to Israel alongside Herzog for a reciprocal visit. The joint delegation will visit Kibbutz Be’eri—devastated in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas massacre—as well as the Israel National Library. Herzog will also award Steinmeier the Presidential Medal of Honor at a ceremony at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

The reciprocal visits, detailed in a statement released by Herzog’s office, reflect a growing alignment between Israel and Germany amid shared concerns about regional security, rising antisemitism in Europe, and the importance of Holocaust remembrance.

The visit follows recent diplomatic coordination between the countries. Merz held his first international call with Netanyahu on May 8, two days after taking office, reaffirming Berlin’s strong ties with Jerusalem and alignment with Israel’s position on key security issues.

Tensions in the region remain high, particularly over international efforts to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Sunday rejected the initiative, saying at a joint press conference in Jerusalem with Wadephul: “Such initiatives are not constructive, but counterproductive. They will only serve as a prize for Hamas’s terror.”