Conservative CDU leader Friedrich Merz, poised to become Chancellor of Germany, expressed his intention to facilitate a visit from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, despite a pending arrest warrant from the ICC. Following his recent election success, Merz indicated that he found it 'absurd' that Netanyahu couldn't visit Germany without fear of arrest. This statement sparked outrage among other political parties, as the ICC issued warrants based on allegations of war crimes during the conflict in Gaza. The SPD is now entering coalition talks with Merz's CDU and CSU parties.
"I have also promised him that we will find ways and means for him to visit Germany and also to be able to leave again without being arrested in Germany," Merz said.
"I think it is a completely absurd idea that an Israeli prime minister cannot visit the Federal Republic of Germany."
In November last year, the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The ICC concluded that there are sufficient grounds to believe that they were complicit in crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
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