German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sparked outrage in his country after suggesting that Israel, which launched large-scale attacks on Iran last week, is doing the "dirty work" in the West, DPA reported, BTA reported.
His statement, made at the end of the Group of Seven (G-7) summit in Canada, today provoked the anger of German politicians, including members of Merz's coalition partner.
Ralph Stegner, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), told the magazine "Spiegel" that it was "more than strange" that "the Chancellor says that Israel is doing our dirty work in Iran".
According to him, Merz's statement suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attack on Iran "probably contradicts international law".
Stegner said it was completely inappropriate for a German representative to express public relief in light of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, with Iran having launched a series of retaliatory attacks since the beginning of Friday's Israeli strikes.
On Tuesday, speaking at the end of a meeting of the world's seven largest industrialized nations, Merz told German public broadcaster ZDF that Israel was currently doing the "dirty work" for the entire West.
"I can only say that I have enormous respect for the Israeli army for having the courage to do it and for the Israeli leadership for having the courage to do it," he said.
While Sören Pellmann, head of the far-left Left party in parliament, accused the German leader of having "thrown international law overboard," Anton Hofreiter of the opposition Green party told Welt television that he believed Merz had chosen "ineptly" his words.
In Iran, 80-90% of the people are against the Islamist regime, he said, noting that "Israeli attacks on Iran also kill civilians".
"But of course, for many people in this world, and especially for people in Iran and Israel, it would be desirable for the mullahs' regime to fall," Hofreiter added.
Germany has been one of Israel's most ardent supporters during its military campaign in Gaza. After Israel's attacks on Iran, the conservative-led government in Berlin did not condemn the strikes but emphasized Israel's right to self-defense.