The official reason given is upcoming elections in Germany. A government spokesman announced both countries have agreed to postpone the annual meeting of leaders and ministers until next year. This has been confirmed by official Israeli sources, explaining German cites scheduling issues as the reason.

However, despite the good relations over the years between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Chancellor Angela Merkel, Germany was among countries expressing their disapproval of the recent Knesset-passing of the Regulation Law, which legalizes over 4,000 buildings throughout Yehuda and Shomron retroactively.

Germany was among the nations that publicly expressed condemnation following the passing of the law.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)