Merkel slams Netanyahu ‘undermining’ two-state solution in book

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court against him for war crimes, in her newly released memoir.

The 720-page book, titled Freedom: Memories 1954-2021, offers a reflective look at Merkel’s political career and legacy, touching on her strained relations with Netanyahu, her regrets, and Germany’s evolving role in global affairs. 

In the book, published as conflicts rage in Ukraine and the Middle East, Merkel accuses Netanyahu of “completely undermining” the two-state solution.  

She recounts how their differences became “insurmountable” during her 16-year tenure as chancellor, particularly after 2009.  

“We could only agree on the formula ‘We agree to disagree,'” she writes. Merkel claims that although Netanyahu occasionally mentioned the two-state solution, his actions—particularly through settlement expansion in the West Bank—undermined it entirely. 

While much of her foreign policy discussion focuses on Russia and the United States, Merkel devotes a chapter to Israel, reflecting on her visits from 1991 to 2021 and interactions with leaders such as Shimon Peres, Ehud Olmert, and Naftali Bennett. 

In contrast to her strained relationship with Netanyahu, Merkel writes in her memoir that she “liked” Olmert, Israel’s prime minister from 2006 to 2009.  

She describes Olmert as “direct and to the point” and credits him with being “genuinely” committed to the two-state solution. 

Merkel writes that it was Olmert who persuaded her to support the German military’s participation in the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon following the Second Lebanon War in 2006.  

Despite her criticism of Netanyahu in her book, Merkel has previously reaffirmed her pro-Israel stance, underscoring Germany’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s right to exist—a position maintained by her successors, especially during the ongoing Gaza conflict. 

Merkel has spoken out publicly prior to the release of her memoir on pro-Palestine protests in Germany and worldwide. 

While acknowledging the legitimacy of calls for a viable Palestinian state and criticism of German or Israeli policies, she accuses some demonstrations of having been misused “to express hatred of the State of Israel and Jews.” 

Germany has become a focal point for a widespread crackdown on pro-Palestinian solidarity activism, with authorities shutting down protests and cancelling cultural events. 

The measures have drawn criticism from activists, who argue they infringe on free expression and disproportionately target Palestinian and Arab communities.  

Regrets and reflections 

The memoir reveals personal insights and regrets, including her handling of the 2015 refugee crisis, which became a defining period of her leadership.  

Merkel reflects on a widely publicised incident where she brought a 14-year-old Syrian refugee to tears by lecturing her about Germany’s limits on accepting refugees.  

She admitted to having wished to suggest writing a letter rather than trying to explain matters at the time. 

Merkel also regrets voting against the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2017, a decision she now sees as a missed opportunity to support equality. 

The former chancellor defends her decision to leave office on her terms, writing, “I let go at the right point.” Merkel stepped down in 2021 after serving four terms, marking the first time a German chancellor voluntarily exited without electoral defeat. 

A legacy in transition 

Merkel’s memoir arrives at a turbulent time for Germany. The country faces economic struggles, and its ruling coalition recently collapsed, triggering early elections. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is poised for a political comeback in the United States, adding to global uncertainty. 

Freedom spans Merkel’s journey from her early life in East Germany to her rise as one of the world’s most influential leaders. It has been simultaneously released in German by Kiepenheuer & Witsch and in English by St. Martin’s Press.