federal government
Baerbock wants new impetus for Middle East peace process
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) is traveling to Israel, Jordan and Egypt for her inaugural visit. Photo: Gleb Garanich/Pool Reuters/AP/dpa
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Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock hopes that her three-day visit to the Middle East will stimulate the peace process. A visit to the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem is also on the program.
During her inaugural visits to Israel, Jordan and Egypt, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wants to bring new impetus to the Middle East peace process, which has been stagnating for years.
“Even if the Middle East conflict is a crisis that has always existed for many, we cannot accept it as the status quo,” said the Green politician before leaving for her inaugural visit to the Middle East. “Everyone has a right to hope – especially the hope of peace,” she added. Baerbock welcomed the fact that the new Israeli government has brought some rapprochement between Israelis and Palestinians.
At the same time, the German Foreign Minister assured: “We stand by our special historical responsibility for the security of Israel and will continue to make contributions in solidarity.” At the start of her three-day inaugural trip to the Middle East, Baerbock plans to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem this Thursday. Baerbock wants to lay a wreath there to commemorate the six million Jews murdered by Nazi Germany.
Meeting in Ramallah with Abbas
Talks are then planned with Foreign Minister Jair Lapid and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. In the afternoon, Baerbock wanted to meet with President Mahmoud Abbas and Foreign Minister Riad Malki in the Palestinian territories. The meeting will take place in Ramallah in the West Bank.
Baerbock emphasized that it is also important to her personally in her new position to get to know Israel and its people even better. It borders on a miracle that young people in particular in both countries are so close today. “We want to secure this treasure for future generations with an intensified youth exchange – as a firm foundation of our relationships for the future, and as an obligation never to let our responsibility for the horrors of the Holocaust be forgotten.”
“Germany stands by the goal of a negotiated two-state solution”
Baerbock wanted to continue flying to Jordan on Thursday, and talks in Egypt are on her agenda on Saturday. With regard to the peace process, the minister explained that Jordan and Egypt, as direct neighbors and Israel’s oldest peace treaty partners, play a special role. She wanted to explore “how we can jointly support further steps towards a peace process”. The peace process between Israel and the Palestinians has been largely idle since 2014.
Baerbock emphasized that Germany is committed to the goal of a negotiated two-state solution. “For this there must be a functional, democratic and sovereign Palestinian state in the future.” In addition to support for institutional development, their talks in Ramallah will also focus on necessary progress in the area of the rule of law or the holding of elections.