Germany's Merz Seeks 'Reset' with Netanyahu, Reality Unchanged
Merz, leader of Germany's CDU party, is reportedly trying to smooth things over with a man currently facing international arrest warrants for war crimes. This 'reset' presumably means Berlin wants to look less critical while Netanyahu continues his military campaign in Gaza. It’s a familiar dance: European leaders express “concern,” then reaffirm unwavering support (and weapons sales) for the very
policies causing that concern. One might ask if 'resetting relations' involves forgetting the tens of thousands dead, or merely updating the PR strategy. The FT's framing focuses on diplomatic pleasantries, not the uncomfortable reality that 'business as usual' for Netanyahu means continued slaughter and land grabs, which has been his consistent strategy since 1996. The last time the world 'reset'
with Netanyahu, it ended with Gaza under siege and expanded settlements. How many 'resets' does it take before it's clear the problem isn't the relationship, but the policy?