The Chancellor’s visit to Israel is about a lot: solidarity with a special ally. German hostages in the hands of terrorists. And preventing a conflagration in the Middle East.
He is the first head of government to show his solidarity with Israel after the devastating terrorist attack by the Islamist Hamas with a visit: Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv today and with relatives of hostages from the EU and the USA as a terrorist organization classified Hamas come together.
Israeli President Izchak Herzog praised the planned visit. “The fact that he is the first head of government of a European country to visit us is an enormous expression of solidarity,” Herzog told the German Press Agency. Scholz is a great friend of Israel. In general, the support of the entire German leadership, including Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, is “incredible.”
Ten days after the attack on Israel, Scholz wants to find out about the situation in the war zone, but also talk about how a wildfire in the region can be prevented. In the evening he travels on to Egypt, which is Israel’s only neighboring country and borders the Gaza Strip. This is what the Chancellor’s 20-hour Middle East mission is all about:
Solidarity as a reason of state
It is no coincidence that Scholz is the first head of government to travel to Israel. Germany has a special responsibility for Israel’s security because of the murder of six million Jews in the Holocaust. The then Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) declared it a reason of state in 2008. Scholz has made this his own. Now it is important to show what reason of state means in a specific attack.
Before his departure, Scholz once again clearly supported Israel for the military strikes against Hamas. “The Hamas attack was a terrorist act that was irresponsible, that had terrible consequences, that killed an incredible number of people and humiliated an incredible number of people. And that is why Israel has every right to defend itself.”
At the same time, he warned Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia against interfering in the conflict. “Together with our allies, we as the federal government are doing everything we can to ensure that this conflict does not escalate further,” said the SPD politician in Berlin before his departure to Israel. “I once again expressly warn Hezbollah and Iran not to intervene in the conflict.”
Concrete military and humanitarian aid
Such words are important for Israel. What is ultimately needed there are allies who criticize the Israeli armed forces’ response to the terrorist attack.
The Israelis, however, hardly expect any military support from Germany. Two leased Israeli drones, which can also be armed, were returned by the Bundeswehr. According to the federal government, Israel has now postponed an application for the supply of ammunition for warships. But it is also about humanitarian aid for the people in the Gaza Strip, hundreds of thousands of whom have been asked by Israel to flee before a possible ground offensive.
Worry about the hostages
The Israeli government currently believes there are more than 200 Hamas hostages in the Gaza Strip. These include several Germans with whom the federal government has no contact. Scholz will continue to explore how they can be freed from the hell of Gaza alive. In the last few days, he has held talks with the heads of state of Qatar, Egypt and Turkey – all countries from which Scholz expects to influence Hamas. However, the strictest confidentiality applies to this issue out of consideration for the hostages. You won’t find out anything about this after the trip.
Meeting with the Jordanian King
The Chancellor will meet the Jordanian King Abdullah II in Berlin before his departure. He will then be accompanied to Israel by Ambassador Ron Prosor, who traveled to the war zone last week with Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens).
Scholz is now following up his deep expressions of solidarity with action, Prosor told the German Press Agency before his departure. “We thank the Chancellor for standing with Israel and are sure that this solidarity will continue as part of the reason of state as Israel fulfills its mission and obligations to protect its citizens.”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
