German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Palestinian Authority leader Mahmud Abbas to implement urgent reforms during a phone call ahead of his visit to Israel. Merz emphasized the need for the Palestinian Authority to play a constructive role in a post-war order and expressed support for the United States peace plan for Gaza, welcoming the Authority's cooperation. The call took place just before Merz's departure for Israel, where he is scheduled to meet with Israeli leaders and visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, following a stop in Jordan to meet King Abdullah II. Merz reaffirmed Germany's commitment to a two-state solution, despite ongoing opposition from both Israeli officials and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.