# Merz

Germany Breaks With Tradition: Merz Warns West Bank Annexation Would Be 'A Grave Mistake'

Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly warned that Israeli moves to annex parts of the West Bank would be "a grave mistake," marking a rare and significant rebuke from a close German ally. Berlin's criticism targets E1 housing plans and broader settler measures, while Israel simultaneously pursues ceasefire talks in Doha — a dual posture driven by domestic politics and strategic calculations that risks undermining the two‑state framework.