German sources deny Netanyahu claim Merkel ‘understands concerns’ over Iran deal

German diplomatic sources deny Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed understanding for Israel’s opposition to the nuclear deal during a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“She understands Israel’s general concerns regarding Iran,” the sources tell The Times of Israel, referring to Iran’s ballistic missiles program and its problematic activities in the region. However, Germany stands fully behind the nuclear deal, which it reached together with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Davos, Switzerland on January 24, 2018 (Amos Ben Gershon/ GPO)

After his meeting with the chancellor on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Netanyahu said that Merkel had “said that she understands our concerns regarding the nuclear agreement even though she does not necessarily agree with the way in which we want to deal with it.”

— Raphael Ahren