Merkel: Germany Has a 'Special Obligation to Support Israel'
Chancellor defends Germany's arms sales to Israel a day after Israel announces deal to acquire vessels, reiterating support for two-state solution.
Germany has a "special obligation to support Israel," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday in defense of her country's weapons sales to the Jewish State, Bloomberg reported.
Merkel was speaking to students at a Berlin school a day after Israel announced plans to buy four German-build Saar 6 vessels to patrol its offshore gas fields. Later on Tuesday, she met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who is on a three-day trip to Germany. She was expected to raise Germany's support for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians with Rivlin, who opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state, Bloomberg reported.
“We sell weapons to Israel because we believe that Israel must defend itself and is often attacked. We also believe that Germany has a special obligation to support Israel," said Merkel in response to a student's question about German arms sales to Israel.
“At the same time we insist – and I’ll also have a controversial discussion with the Israeli president – that there should just as well be a Palestinian state."
Want to enjoy 'Zen' reading - with no ads and just the article? Subscribe today
Subscribe now
