Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that Germany "harms its own soul" when criticism of Israel becomes a pretext for antisemitism. Merz said without Germany's Jews there "can be no good future" for the country.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany on Wednesday called on the government in Berlin to continue to lend its support to Israel 'unconditionally.'

Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined the group in Frankfurt, to commemorate 75 years since its foundation.

Germany's Central Council of Jews was founded in Frankfurt, five years after the end of World War II. The organization considers itself the political, social and religious representative of the German Jewish community.

"Germany must stand clearly on the side of Israel," Council president Josef Schuster said.

Schuster called on Merz not to be "dissuaded from this "path" -- neither by other European countries nor by "individual lawmakers."

Since theconflict in Gaza erupted, Germany has been one of Israel's most important supporters.

The Merz administration has been more vocal than the previous government in its criticism of Israel's campaign in the Gaza Strip.

But his government still opposes EU sanctions on Israel over the attacks on the Palestinian territory.

Merz rejected "criticism of Israel" if it serves as a pretext for antisemitism.

Criticism of the Israeli government must be possible, Merz said, "but our country harms its own soul when this criticism becomes a pretext for hatred of Jews -- or when it even leads to demands that the Federal Republic turn away from Israel."

"We are all called upon to show civil courage wherever we witness antisemitism, racism, or discrimination," Merz added.

"The Federal Republic would have been forever uprooted without Jewish life and Jewish culture in our country," the chancellor said.

Merz sent a message to Jewish people in Germany, saying that without them, "there can be no good future for the Federal Republic."

Germany's leading Jewish group urges Merz to support Israel