The German chancellor Friedrich Merz, in Berlin. (Credit: AFP)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday urged Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to implement reforms so that the Palestinian Authority can “play a role” in postwar Gaza, during a phone call ahead of his departure for a visit to Israel, according to a government spokesperson.
Merz praised the “cooperative attitude” of the Palestinian Authority toward U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, while also calling on Abbas to carry out “urgently needed reforms” so the organization “can play a constructive role in a post-conflict order,” said German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius.
Germany, one of Israel’s closest allies, has repeatedly criticized Israel’s aggressive war in the Gaza Strip. Berlin has also condemned the “massive increase in settler violence against Palestinian civilians” in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the spokesperson added.
The call between Merz and Abbas took place as the German chancellor prepared to travel to Israel in the evening, following a brief stop in Jordan. Merz is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday morning to discuss efforts to advance a second phase of the cease-fire in Gaza, nearly two months after it took effect. The truce remains fragile, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violations on an almost daily basis.
During his conversation with Abbas, Merz reiterated Germany’s support for a two-state solution, which he described as the only path to lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, according to the spokesperson.
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