On Friday morning, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz took decisive action to bolster security at all Jewish and Israeli-linked institutions across Germany, in response to what Berlin now fears could be a wave of global blowback from Tehran and its proxies.
As the Middle East trembles from the shockwaves of Israelâs largest-ever airstrike campaign against Iran, the fallout is being felt thousands of miles awayâin the heart of Europe.
đĄïž Jewish Sites Now Under Guard: A Homeland Response to a Foreign War
The German Federal Chancellery announced an immediate expansion of police protection at synagogues, Israeli embassies, Jewish schools, and cultural centers nationwide. Counterterrorism units were reportedly placed on alert, and intelligence agencies were instructed to monitor Iran-linked threats, including potential cyber or lone-wolf retaliatory acts.
âThe protection of Jewish life in Germany is non-negotiable,â Merz declared during a briefing in Berlin.
âIsrael has the right to defend its existenceâand we will defend those who stand for freedom here at home.â
The move comes amid heightened tensions following Israelâs Operation Rising Lion, which involved 200 Israeli fighter jets dropping over 330 bombs on Iranian nuclear and military targets in a stunning show of force.
đ MerzâNetanyahu Call Signals Ironclad Support
Chancellor Merz spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu early Friday morning, shortly after the operation was confirmed by the Israeli Defense Forces.
According to sources familiar with the call, Merz reaffirmed Germanyâs âunshakable commitmentâ to Israelâs security and voiced Berlinâs concern over Iranâs ongoing violations of international nuclear agreements.
âThe goal must remain that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons,â Merz told reporters after the call.
âIts nuclear ambitionsâpaired with its refusal to cooperate with global monitorsârepresent a threat not just to Israel, but to regional and international peace.â
đźđ± Operation Rising Lion: Israelâs Direct Hit on Natanz Cripples Iranâs Nuclear Core
âąïž Germany Condemns Iranâs Nuclear Activity
Chancellor Merz delivered a strong rebuke of Iranâs nuclear trajectory, aligning with recent findings from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He accused Iran of:
-
Failing to disclose uranium enrichment activities at multiple secret sites
-
Threatening to accelerate enrichment levels beyond even 60%, a technical step from weapons-grade
-
Violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), undermining global security mechanisms
âIranâs nuclear program is not peaceful,â Merz said. âIt is a calculated provocation wrapped in denial.â
đ§ Germanyâs Dual Warning: Support Israel, Avoid Escalation
While standing firmly with Israel, Merz also issued a measured call for de-escalation, urging both sides to avoid a broader spiral into regional war.
âThe entire region stands on the edge of a knife,â he said.
âAll sides must refrain from actions that could trigger uncontrolled escalation or destabilize neighboring countries.â
Analysts view this as a signal to Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iranâs other proxies, who may see Israelâs strike as justification for opening new fronts.
đ A European Shield in a Global Conflict
Germanyâs swift internal security response is being praised by Jewish leaders and international observers alike. The move reflects Europeâs growing recognition that wars in the Middle East no longer stay in the Middle East.
With Iranian cyber forces active, Hezbollah operatives embedded in Europe, and far-right extremists still a concern, Germanyâs move signals preemptive resilience against transnational threats.