I am visiting a close friend and partner. The State of Israel is under threat from many sides, and global antisemitism is on the rise. Furthermore, we are bound by a mutual security partnership. At the same time, however, we know that the pressing questions of regional security in the Middle East can only be answered within a framework of shared understanding among all the countries involved. Before taking part in the NATO summit in Ankara, I am therefore travelling again to Israel for talks with my Israeli counterpart. My aim is to help foster understanding and lasting peace in the region.

The agreement between Israel and Lebanon offers hope and the chance to resolve a decades-long conflict. Germany wants to support Israel and Lebanon on this path. It is vital that Lebanon reliably enforces the state’s monopoly on the use of force, and clear security guarantees for Israel are equally crucial. If all sides take responsibility, this process can lead to stability, security and lasting peace.

I will also discuss the negotiations between the United States and Iran with my Israeli colleague. The ceasefire that has been achieved has yet to be consolidated. It is up to Iran to seize the opportunity for constructive negotiations.

We are also keeping a close eye on the situation in Gaza: during these hot summer months, the water shortage is currently reaching dangerous levels. Full access for humanitarian aid workers and their supplies is essential in order to improve the desperate situation of people in Gaza.

Our relations with Israel can never be seen independently of the responsibility that Germany bears for the security of the only Jewish state in light of the Shoah – that most atrocious crime against humanity committed by Germans. Part of this responsibility is to oppose any form of historical distortion or relativisation, including by ensuring that the historical truth is passed on to future generations even after the last survivors have left us. To this end, the Federal Government and the Länder are working intensively together with the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. My visit to Israel is also intended to strengthen and further expand this cooperation.