Conservative Party Wins Election, Chancellor Merz Candidate Invites Netanyahu To Germany

JAKARTA - Germany's next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Germany despite a warrant for the arrest of Israeli PM from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a telephone conversation after Merz's conservative party won the most votes in the national election on Sunday, Netanyahu congratulated Merz, the Israeli prime minister's office said.

A CDU conservative party spokesman who supported Merz confirmed the two had spoken by telephone after the election, but declined to comment on the substance of the conversation.

Germany has a special responsibility towards Israel because of the Holocaust legacy, and Merz insists he is a strong ally.

However, Germany is also one of the signings of the ICC.

ICC judges issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu, former Israeli defense chief Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri last November on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict.

Israel has rejected the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies war crimes.