Germany urges Israel to stop settlement construction in West Bank ahead of Merz-Netanyahu meeting
‘We reject any steps aimed at annexing the West Bank. We see this as a significant obstacle on the path to ... peace plan,’ says spokesman
File Photo by Wisam Hashlamoun - Israeli heavy duty machines carry out excavation work, damaging Palestinian-owned lands to build an illegal Jewish settlement in the Jabal Juheihan area of Hebron, West Bank on October 27, 2025
BERLIN
Germany on Friday urged Israel “to stop settlement construction” in the West Bank ahead of this weekend’s meeting between Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“We are, of course, following developments very closely and have always said that they must comply with the provisions of international law. We have repeatedly condemned the massive violence perpetrated by settlers against Palestinian civilians," said Sebastian Hille, a government spokesman, at a press briefing in Berlin.
“We reject any steps aimed at annexing the West Bank. We see this as a significant obstacle on the path to a negotiated two-state solution and the implementation of the peace plan,” he added.
Hille reiterated that Israel’s ongoing settlement construction in the West Bank was a clear violation of international law and should be stopped.
“You know that settlement construction is contrary to international law and violates relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, and that is why we call on the Israeli government, as we have done here several times before, to stop settlement construction,” he said.
The chancellor plans to travel to Jordan on Saturday, where he will hold talks with the Jordanian King Abdullah II before heading to Israel for his inaugural visit on Sunday. The meeting with Netanyahu will focus, among other topics, on stabilizing the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
Earlier in the day, Germany's opposition Left Party strongly criticized Merz for his planned meeting with Netanyahu.
“Merz's trip to Israel is a declaration of war on international law. He is meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu even though there is an international arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes. A meeting with an alleged war criminal is not a normal state visit,” said Left Party co-chair Jan van Aken in Berlin.
He also added that the resumption of German arms deliveries to Israel was “a political scandal,” saying Germany should not deliver arms as long as the Israeli government does not publicly support a political solution with a separate Palestinian state.
