Germany's Merz to visit Israel, meet PM Netanyahu

BERLIN (Reuters) -German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Israel on December 6 and 7 for his first official visit since taking office, a German government spokesperson said on Friday.

Merz is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on December 7 to discuss bilateral relations, the ceasefire in Gaza and other international issues, and will also visit the Yad Vashem memorial and hold talks with local representatives from society, the spokesperson added during a regular government press conference.

Germany has long been one of Israel's staunchest supporters, but has also criticized Netanyahu's government over its strategy in the devastating Gaza war.

This month, the German government moved to resume weapons sales to Israel that it had been suspended since August over the war, but said the decision is subject to the observance of the ceasefire and the large-scale provision of humanitarian aid.

(Reporting by Thomas Seythal, editing by Thomas Escritt)

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