Germany’s Merz backs Israeli right to hit Iran, ups protection at Jewish sites

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirms Israel’s “right to defend its existence and the security of its citizens,” in a statement on the Israeli attacks on Iran.

He says he spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this morning, who updated him on Israel’s Iran operation and its objectives.

Merz convened his security cabinet after the conversation, and says Germany will increase protection of Israeli assets and Jewish sites.

The chancellor calls on both sides to refrain from further escalation, but does not criticize Israel, and stresses Germany’s longstanding concern over Iran’s advanced nuclear weapons program.

“Just yesterday, the International Atomic Energy Agency, in a resolution introduced by Germany together with France and the United Kingdom, reiterated that Iran continues to fail to fulfill its obligations to disclose its work on enriching nuclear-capable material. Iran has subsequently threatened to further accelerate uranium enrichment. This nuclear program violates the provisions of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and poses a serious threat to the entire region, especially to the State of Israel,” he says.