Germany's Angela Merkel gets Hitler moustache from Benjamin Netanyahu in unfortunate photo

THAT’S awkward. It was supposed to be a friendly diplomatic chat, but a photo of German Chancellor Angela Merkel has gone viral for all the wrong reasons.

Awkward. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ge

IT’S probably one of the most unfortunate photos ever taken.

During a visit to Jerusalem German Chancellor Angela Merkel became the unwitting victim of a digital photo bomb from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The photo, that has since gone viral, shows Mr Netanyahu pointing his finger to form a Hitler moustache over Merkel’s face.

Merkel was in Israel with her cabinet to discuss nuclear talks with Iran and to encourage Prime Minister Netanyahu to reach a two-state solution with the Palestinians.

During the conference Merkel expressed “grave concern” over Israel's continued settlement building on occupied Palestinian territory.

Enough with the finger pointing! German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of their cabinets. Picture: AFP

“We are looking at the settlements issue with grave concern,” Merkel said at a news conference with Netanyahu.

“We hope it will not stand in the way of a two-state solution and that we can overcome it.” Since Israeli-Palestinian peace talks were launched after intense US efforts last year, Israel has advanced plans for more than 11,700 new settler homes, infuriating the Palestinians and drawing condemnation from the international community.

Settlement building is illegal under international law.

Merkel, who did not plan to meet with Palestinian officials on the visit, reiterated that Germany adhered to the EU position on settlements, which under guidelines published in July prohibits financial dealings with settlement-based entities.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is watching the hands of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu closely.