diplomacy
Baerbock and Cameron for crisis talks in Israel
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (2nd from right) and British Foreign Minister David Cameron. photo
© Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
Federal Foreign Minister Bearbock and her British counterpart Cameron are looking for solutions in Jerusalem to prevent the spread of the conflict after the Iranian attack on Israel.
Against the background of an impending conflagration in the Middle East following the Iranian attack, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) has… Israel started crisis talks with her British colleague David Cameron. According to the Foreign Office, the Green politician met President Izchak Herzog with Cameron in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
Baerbock and Cameron wanted to complete the further discussions separately, but with the content coordinated. At the beginning of the talks, the two exchanged views on the current situation, it said. It is Baerbock’s seventh visit to Israel since the terrorist attack on Israel by the Islamist Hamas on October 7th.
Israel’s president speaks of a “warm discussion”
According to his office, Israel’s president spoke of a “warm discussion” with Baerbock and Cameron. “We thank Great Britain and Germany for standing strongly with Israel in the face of Iran’s reprehensible attack,” said Herzog. “The whole world must take decisive and firm action against the threat posed by the Iranian regime, which seeks to undermine stability throughout the region.” Israel is clearly obliged to defend its people.
The Federal Foreign Minister also met her Israeli colleague Israel Katz. The visit took place against the backdrop of the extremely tense security situation in the Middle East following Iran’s major attack on Israel at the weekend. There is great concern that the conflict could spread further if Israel counterattacks harshly.
Israel wants to “dramatically” increase humanitarian aid
But the efforts to release the hostages from the hands of Hamas and the humanitarian situation of the suffering civilian population in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is fighting the Islamists, were also topics in Jerusalem. “The immediate return of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza remains our top priority – and the international community’s top priority,” Herzog said, according to his office. At the same time, humanitarian aid to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip is being “dramatically” increased. In recent weeks, Baerbock has repeatedly called on Israel to allow more aid deliveries to Gaza.
Baerbock also met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today. She also wanted to speak to Benny Gantz, who is a member of the Israeli war cabinet. According to the Israeli Kan broadcaster, Netanyahu said on Tuesday at a meeting with ministers from his Likud party: “We will respond to Iran, but you have to do it intelligently and not from your gut. You have to be nervous, like that They made us nervous.”