Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) engaged in a telephone conversation with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday, a dialogue characterized by unusually conciliatory descriptors from the German government. Spokesperson Stefan Kornelius described the exchange as “extensive” and taking place “in a friendly atmosphere” a level of positive framing rarely employed in official German communications regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The call, occurring just prior to Chancellor Merz’s scheduled visit to Jordan and Israel, underscored a notable shift in emphasis, with Merz reiterating his support for the controversial peace plan initially proposed by former US President Donald Trump. While acknowledging what he termed a “cooperative stance” from the Palestinian Authority, the Chancellor simultaneously placed considerable pressure on Abbas’s administration, stressing the “urgently necessary” implementation of reforms. This emphasis on reform, couched within the caveat of potential future constructive engagement, raises questions about the underlying conditions Germany appears to be placing on the Palestinian Authority’s role in any potential post-conflict settlement.
The conditional language used – suggesting a future role contingent on reform – reveals a delicate balancing act. While advocating for a negotiated two-state solution – the asserted “best prospect” for lasting peace – the German government’s endorsement of Trump’s plan, which has been widely criticized for its perceived bias towards Israel and lack of Palestinian sovereignty, carries significant political risks. It implicitly downplays the ongoing and substantial grievances held by Palestinians and could be interpreted as a tacit endorsement of policies perceived as detrimental to Palestinian self-determination.
Merkel’s expected arrival in Tel Aviv later this evening, following a brief stopover in Jordan’s port city of Aqaba, will likely be met with scrutiny concerning the trajectory of German policy in the region and its impact on the ongoing complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The visit and the preceding telephone conversation, signal a renewed, though potentially precarious, focus on a negotiated resolution, but one firmly rooted within a framework that remains subject to considerable debate and criticism.
