Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor Condemns Smotrich for Invoking Holocaust Rhetoric Against German Chancellor Friedrich Merz

Israel’s Ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, slams Bezalel Smotrich for using Holocaust imagery to attack Chancellor Friedrich Merz over settlement disputes.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 14, 2026, 2:38 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

Diplomatic Fallout Over Holocaust Comparisons

In a rare public display of internal government friction, Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor has "unequivocally" condemned Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for comments targeting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The dispute was ignited when Merz voiced "deep concern" regarding the de facto annexation and expansion of settlements in the West Bank. Smotrich responded on social media by stating, "You will not force us into ghettos again," a statement Prosor argues fundamentally erodes and distorts the memory of the Holocaust.

Berlin Affirmed as a Primary Strategic Ally

Speaking to Kan Radio, Ambassador Prosor emphasized the gravity of the relationship between Jerusalem and Berlin, describing Germany as Israel’s "number one friend" within a frequently critical European landscape. While acknowledging that political disagreements are a legitimate and constant fixture of international relations, Prosor asserted that such disputes must not be framed through a distorted historical lens. He noted that while certain German policies remain unacceptable to Israel, and vice versa, the underlying alliance remains a cornerstone of Israeli diplomacy.

The West Bank Settlement Expansion Dispute

The tension centers on the current Israeli government's policies in the West Bank, which Chancellor Merz identified as a significant barrier to regional stability. Merz’s warning against de facto annexation reflects a broader European anxiety over the shifting territorial status quo. Smotrich, a key proponent of the settlement movement, has utilized highly charged rhetoric to dismiss these international concerns, framing foreign diplomatic pressure as a existential threat reminiscent of 20th-century European atrocities.