"We are the power that is ultimately in charge of overall security" …"between the Jordan river and the sea." Merz came with a pledge towards Israel to stop settler violence and any step towards annexation of the West Bank. Netanyahu‘s response to a follow-up question:

So Merz tries to gloss over the issue of the ICC arrest warrant as an obstacle to invite Netanyahu to Germany. But no glossing over for Netanyahu today… Merz made a pre-election pledge that any Israeli PM can always come to Germany.

"Germany must stand up for the existence and security of Israel, this will forever be inextricably woven into the fabric of our relationship." Germany's Friedrich Merz at Yad Vashem. Merz renews a promise first made by Angela Merkel in 2008 as "Staatsräson" - "reason of state".

Merz will meet Israel‘s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem later today. Relations remain close but tense. Merz will try to strike a delicate balance. What‘s ahead today:

Merz speaks to King Abdullah II of Jordan on stopover before arriving for his first official visit to Israel. Praises King‘s mediation role and calls on all sides to enter second phase of Gaza ceasefire plan. Calls for destroying the very basis Hamas built its terror on. Says

Just confirmed: Merz will join Starmer, Macron for E3 meeting with Zelenzkyy in London on Monday, Merz spokesman just told us. Merz is about to take off from Jordan to Israel on 1st official visit.

Merz departs for his first official trip to Israel - via Jordan. Relations with Netanyahu were tense at times over Gaza. Merz imposed and again dropped a weapons export ban. Main mission: no public tension.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is pushing back against a new US national security strategy, saying Berlin did not need external lectures on freedom of expression or the organization of democratic societies. https://t.co/TWkOYLZqtA

Germany’s far-right AfD just launched a new youth wing — “Generation Germany.” Its new leader rejects the extremist label. In DW's Berlin Briefing, @NinaHaase, @Mattmoorek and @PfeiferHan3869 discuss what his ideology could mean for the AfD's future. https://t.co/cy04s2W0CG

Merz pulled rank on young rebellious MPs today. A pension law vote shifting some €120 Bn onto the younger generation passed. This kept his coalition with the social democrat SPD party safe for now. But Merz lost his own CDU party‘s youth - and his credibility on pension reform.

Russia‘s 140 Bn frozen assets: "The aim is to find a joint solution at the European Council on 18th December". "All EU countries must carry the same risk". Merz says in readout after his meeting with Belgian PM de Wever and EU Commission President in Brussels.

‘Be my guest’. Germany’s Defense Minister welcomed planned protests from students who are opposed to his new military service plans. The plans would see all 18-year-old men mustered each year.

The man in the middle is openly challenging Chancellor Merz in a test vote underway right now. ⏰ CDU Party youth organization‘s Johannes Winkel heads an 18-strong rebellion in Merz’ camp against a new pension law. Merz needs 12 of those votes, or else his coalition faces crisis.

Germany has locked in its 2026 budget — and it's unlike anything we’ve seen before. Record spending, massive borrowing, and a fierce debate over the country's future. We break down the numbers.

This is German Chancellor Merz’s response to the US State Department’s directive to civil servants in Western countries to push for stricter immigration rules 👇

By 2035, one in three Germans will be of retirement age. And the question of who will pay their pensions is sparking political turmoil in Berlin – even within the chancellor’s own party.

"Russia must now come to the table." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has praised the refined US peace plan to end the war in Ukraine, but says it's up to Moscow to ensure further progress. DW's @MKuefner has more on the significance of these comments.

28-Point 🇺🇦 peace plan negotiations in Geneva over - for now. Several points dropped. Revised document now reviewed in Washington, Kyiv and among Europeans. 🇪🇺 Commission President Ursula vdLeyen arrives for pre- EU - African Union consultations in Luanda. Many EU leaders here.

Why Merz doesn’t believe in a deal on the 28-plan by Thursday and why China should help. I spoke with the German Chancellor straight after the G20 and his bilateral with China‘s Prime Minister Li Qiang. https://t.co/EIM8iV3OJH

In an interview with DW, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that "China could play a role" and "could put some more pressure on Russia to end" Russia's war in Ukraine. Merz made the comment after speaking with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang. He plans to visit China next year.