Federal Government
Baerbock meets Israel’s Foreign Minister Katz
Baerbock’s impatience is likely to have increased in view of the suffering of the civilian population in Gaza, which she repeatedly complains about. photo
© Christoph Soeder/dpa
It is the Foreign Minister’s sixth visit to Israel since October 7th. The meeting with her colleague Israel Katz is unlikely to be particularly harmonious. Also because of a special signal.
The UN demand for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, more help for the suffering civilian population, calls for a two-state solution: at today’s meeting with the Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her Israeli colleague Israel Katz in Jerusalem are likely to address several points of contention behind closed doors.
In the evening, after a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Green politician expressly praised the Palestinian Authority (PA) for its contribution to the UN resolution, which was heavily criticized by Israel. Katz shouldn’t like that.
It is the foreign minister’s sixth visit to Israel since the October 7 massacre by Hamas and other terrorists. Baerbock said in Ramallah that with its clear condemnation of Hamas terror, Abbas’s PA had made “an important contribution” to the decision of the World Security Council in New York.
She can only join the call for Hamas to lay down its weapons. The global community’s urgent appeal for a ceasefire was overdue. The demands for the release of all hostages in Gaza and additional aid deliveries for the civilian population in the densely populated coastal area are also important.
Baerbock: PA needs access to Gaza
Baerbock demanded that the PA, which was violently expelled from Gaza by the Islamist Hamas in 2007 and has since then only ruled in the West Bank, must continue to reform. But she needs access to the coastal area “and the certainty that Gaza and, above all, the West Bank are one.” Israeli settlement construction is always opening up “new gaps and thus security threats”.
Baerbock criticized: “This is literally blocking the two-state solution. This is literally blocking peace.” The two-state solution means the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that exists peacefully side by side with Israel – which both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas reject.
Baerbock also continues to advocate that violent radical settlers should face consequences. According to media reports, the Israeli civil administration has declared 800 hectares in the West Bank as Israeli state land. Among other things, hundreds of settler apartments are to be built in the area. Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law.
Baerbock’s impatience may have grown
For weeks, Baerbock has been campaigning for a humanitarian ceasefire so that the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas can be released and more aid deliveries can reach the Gaza Strip. She obviously doesn’t get through to Netanyahu – just like representatives of the US government.
Baerbock’s impatience is likely to have increased in view of the suffering of the civilian population in Gaza, which she repeatedly complains about. After a meeting with her Egyptian colleague Samih Schukri in Cairo, she again warned the Israeli government on Monday against a ground offensive in the city of Rafah, which is overcrowded with refugees.
Katz responds to call for ceasefire
Even before Baerbock arrived in Israel, Katz reacted frostily after the Federal Foreign Minister called on Israel and Hamas on X (formerly Twitter) for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that should lead to a ceasefire. Katz replied on X: “We expect our friends to continue to support Israel in these challenging times and not to weaken it against the terrorist organization Hamas.” It is important to continue working together to expand humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Around 2.2 million people live in the Gaza Strip. In Rafah alone, in the southern part of the coastal region, it is estimated that 1.5 million of them are seeking shelter in a small space from the fighting in other parts of Gaza. According to Netanyahu, the army has drawn up plans to bring civilians to safety. At the same time, there are allegations that his government is preventing or delaying more aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip – which the Israeli side rejects.
Baerbock calls for the land route to be opened for help
In Cairo, the Foreign Minister once again pointed out that aid deliveries from the air and by sea could only make a small contribution to supplying the people of Gaza. “What we need is the opening of the land route.”
The Israeli government is responsible for guaranteeing access to food and water as well as safe places to flee. Baerbock accused Israel of not consistently distinguishing between military and civilian targets. These allegations are also likely to be discussed at the meeting with Katz.