Khaberni - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Europe and its recent stances towards Israel, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged him to stop the fighting in Lebanon and called on him to refrain from annexing the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu said during his attendance at the Holocaust remembrance ceremonies on Monday: "Today we defend Europe, which is experiencing a profound moral weakness."
He added that Europe "forgot to distinguish between good and evil" and observed that it is "losing its ability to defend its identity and values, and its responsibility to protect civilization against barbarism."
Netanyahu considered that Israel - which, along with the United States, waged a war on Iran at the end of February - "defends Europe and the world" in cooperation with Washington.
On his part, German Chancellor Merz urged the Israeli Prime Minister to end the fighting in southern Lebanon and to engage in peace talks with the Lebanese government, according to an official spokesperson.
Merz— in a phone call with Netanyahu according to a statement by the German government spokesperson—expressed "deep concern" about the developments in the Palestinian territories.
According to the statement, the German Chancellor stressed the necessity “that there should be no actual - even partial - annexation of the West Bank.”
Israel is launching an attack on Lebanon targeting what it says are Hezbollah positions, and its attacks have resulted in thousands of casualties.
The escalation in Lebanon arises against the backdrop of the American-Israeli military campaign on Iran since February 28, which ceased after a ceasefire was declared - mediated by Pakistan - in the early hours of Wednesday for two weeks, preparing for negotiations aimed at ending the war.
