ISTANBUL

Amnesty International has slammed Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union and possible next chancellor after Sunday’s parliamentary elections, for inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Berlin.

“Not a good start as future chancellor: on the evening of the Bundestag elections, Friedrich Merz apparently invites Benjamin Netanyahu to Germany, against whom an arrest warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court,” Amnesty Deutschland said in a statement on X on Monday.

The organization described the move as an "open call" to break the law.

“The new German government must respect international law and human rights institutions. For a foreign policy without double standards,” Amnesty added.

The Israeli prime minister’s office announced Monday that Merz would invite Netanyahu for an official visit to Germany.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Merz said he had assured Netanyahu that he would "find ways and means" to allow him to visit Germany without the risk of arrest.

“I think it is a completely absurd idea that an Israeli prime minister cannot visit the Federal Republic of Germany,” said Merz.

The ICC issued arrest warrants last November for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, where more than 48,300 people have been killed since October 2023.

The onslaught was halted under a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement implemented last month.
Merz confirmed that Netanyahu called him on Sunday to congratulate him on his victory in Germany’s parliamentary elections.

“You know that we know each other well,” Merz told reporters.

Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) secured 28.6% of the vote, according to preliminary official results. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) suffered a historic defeat, receiving 16.3%—the party’s lowest vote share since 1949.