Israeli foreign minister praises new German leaders as ‘true friends’

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has praised the new German leadership as “true friends of Israel,” as his German counterpart Johann Wadephul visited Jerusalem.

Saar said on Sunday that he looks forward to cooperating with the new administration under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, which took office this week, and that he will seek to visit Berlin in June.

“Germany is Israel’s partner and our biggest trade partner in Europe,” Saar said, as part of celebrations commemorating the 60th anniversary of relations between the two countries.

“Israel and Germany have special relations,” he added. “It shows that with leadership and determination we can work for a better future – not forgetting the horrors of the past.”

The meeting comes as Israel is facing accusations of genocide in Gaza and starving Palestinians by blocking humanitarian supplies into the besieged area.

Saar argued that the aid has been exploited by the Palestinian militant group Hamas to “retain its strong position – at the expense of the civilian population.”

He said Israel supports a US initiative to supply the population in Gaza with privately-funded aid.

Saar insisted that “only Hamas is responsible for the war and for the continuation of the war,” arguing that the group “must be defeated.”

He also described Iran as “the most dangerous state in the world,” stating it must be “prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons.”