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A first official visit in difficult times – Foreign Minister Wadephul travelling to Israel and the Palestinian territories
Cityscape in Tel Aviv © imageBROKER.com
In his first week in office, following his visits to France, Poland and Ukraine, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is travelling to Israel. Read on to find out more about the trip.
Germany and Israel are marking a special anniversary this year: 60 years ago, on 12 May 1965, Israel and the Federal Republic established diplomatic relations. In the wake of the terrible crimes of the Holocaust and the immeasurable suffering that the National Socialist regime inflicted upon the Jewish people, the idea of such a rapprochement seemed wholly unthinkable during the early years of both states.
Prior to his departure, Foreign Minister Wadephul said:
“This year we are celebrating 60 years of German-Israeli relations. I am therefore keen to travel to Israel early on in my tenure. After all, for us as Germans this relationship is a precious gift that we should never take for granted. We stand clearly by the side of Israel.”
After 60 years of friendship, the German and Israeli societies are now deeply interconnected. In this context, Germany’s responsibility for the security of Israel, its citizens and the Jewish people is and will remain a cornerstone of German foreign policy. Germany is engaged globally to combat antisemitism and protect Jewish life, to ensure that a crime against humanity like the Holocaust never happens again.
Wreath laying at the Yad Vashem Memorial
In the course of his first official visit to Israel, Foreign Minister Wadephul will visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. The work done by memorial centres is indispensable, not least in view of the painful fact that fewer and fewer eyewitnesses remain who can recount the crimes against humanity of the Holocaust from their own personal experience.
Foreign Minister Wadephul will be laying a wreath and signing the guest book at Yad Vashem on Sunday.
Engagement for a ceasefire in Gaza
The brutal terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas on 7 October 2023 has caused profound trauma in Israeli society. The dreadful repercussions of the attack can still be felt everywhere – both by the victims of Hamas’ attack and by the families of the hostages, still fearing for their relatives’ lives. German nationals are among those still in the hands of Hamas.
At the same time, the catastrophic humanitarian situation is bringing suffering to the civilian population in Gaza. Every further day of fighting exacerbates their suffering. The humanitarian situation in Gaza and the suffering of the civilian population will be among the topics discussed by Foreign Minister Wadephul during his political talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.
Prior to his departure, Foreign Minister Wadephul said:
We condemn the brutal terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas on 7 October 2023 in the strongest terms and support Israel in its efforts to safeguard its security. We sense and understand that 7 October unleashed a deep-seated trauma for Israel – as an attack on Jewish life on a scale that had not been seen since the Holocaust. It is Israel’s right to defend itself against this terrorism.
The horrific consequences of 7 October continue to have an impact – on the victims of Hamas and their relatives, on the hostages, but also on the civilian population in Gaza. Hamas must cease its fighting, and all hostages must finally be released. I intend to ask about the strategic goal of the fighting, which has intensified again since March.
That is why a start to serious negotiations on a ceasefire is now urgently needed, with the goal of obtaining the release of all hostages and the provision of aid to the people in Gaza. The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is now unbearable.
Talks in the West Bank
Following his visit to Israel, Foreign Minister Wadephul is travelling to the Palestinian territories, where he will hold talks with Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, who is implementing a reform agenda with support from Germany and our European partners. It is completely clear that in future Gaza must not be allowed to pose any further danger to Israel. So the Palestinian Authority has a key role to play in the post-war order in Gaza.
As remote as it may seem right now, a negotiated two-state solution still offers the best chance of lasting peace and security in the region. Foreign Minister Wadephul will be advocating for this, too, during his trip.