Merz makes first visit to Israel as chancellor despite criticism

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz heads to Israel on Saturday for the first visit by a European leader to the country in over a year. Merz, after stopping in Jordan for talks with King Abdullah II, is set to fly on to Israel in the evening before meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Sunday. The German leader is also expected to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. Merz's visit has been criticised by the German left, who called meeting with Netanyahu - who is wanted by the