Israel and Germany: « Friendship is a gift »
The state visit started with good news. Edan Alexander will be released, that’s how Hamas promised. The terrorist organization took the Israeli soldiers hostage on October 7, 2023. The Hamas announced his release on Sunday evening, shortly before Israel’s President Izchak Duke landed in Berlin.
So there would be something to celebrate on German-Israeli state visit. The reason for the meeting alone is reason enough. Germany and Israel have been maintaining diplomatic relationships for 60 years. After a step -by -step approach, the then Chancellor Ludwig Erhard and Israeli Prime Minister Levi Eschkol decided on May 12, 1965 – only 20 years after the Nazis had cruelly cruelly. It is a unique reconciliation between the land of the perpetrator and the land of the victims.
Steinmeier asks Israel to allow the transport of relief goods in the Gaza Strip
Steinmeier and Duke paid tribute to a double state visit. After the day together in Berlin, in which the two visited the memorial Gleis 17 at Berlin-Grunewald station in addition to a pronunciation in Bellevue Castle, they fly together to Israel on Tuesday. Steinmeier will be a guest there for two days and will visit a Kibbutz, among other things, that had been attacked by Hamas on October 7th. They are accompanied by their women Michal Herzog and Elke Büdenbender. This form of double visit is unique, as the Federal Presidential Office emphasized in advance.
The two presidents in the garden of the Bellevue Castle also made this clear. The friendship of Israel is a gift, « That we were not allowed to expect after the devastation of the Second World War and the Schoa civilization break, » said Steinmeier. For his part, the Israeli President emphasized that with the exception of the United States, no country has contributed as much to support and security in Israel in recent years as Germany. Nevertheless: real celebration mood did not want to arise between Herzog and Steinmeier.
Again and again both showed their irritation through the opposite side. Steinmeier asked Israel to allow the transport of relief goods to the Gaza Strip. « It is part of a friendship to communicate, » he said. « The blockade for relief supplies must be canceled, humanitarian aid goods, medical relief goods – not at some point, but now. » At the same time, he showed no doubt about the support of Israel. « Israel wages a war against a terrorist threat in Gaza, » emphasized the Federal President. The Hamas hides « cowardly behind civilians ».
At least both heads of state seem to have hope for a peaceful future
Duke said the key to peace in the Middle East was the liberation of the hostages. He spoke of a « sacred duty » of his country. At the same time, he looks at a growing hatred of Jews in Europe with concern. Anti -Semites « merged with new dark powers who want to destroy the Jewish state, » warned Herzog. « We must not assume that the horrors of the Holocaust are known to everyone in future generations. »
At least both headers seem to have hope for a peaceful future. Steinmeier made it clear who he rely on: on states like Saudi Arabia. In the past they have taken steps to normalize their relationships with Israel. German-Israeli history is also confident, said the German head of state. She shows: « Peace is possible, reconciliation is possible. »
