German ambassador to Israel
Interference in internal affairs: Israel complains about Steffen Seibert
Israel has lodged a complaint against German Ambassador Steffen Seibert in Berlin. The reason for this is Seibert’s presence at a meeting of the Supreme Court on the controversial judicial reform.
On Tuesday, Israel’s Supreme Court dealt with a highly controversial judicial restructuring of the right-wing religious government in a historic court hearing. For the first time in the country’s history, all 15 judges came together to discuss eight petitions against an adopted amendment to the Basic Law. At the end of the almost 14-hour session, presiding judge Esther Chajut granted 21 days to submit additions. Only then will a decision be made.
“I wanted to see that”
Seibert was also present at the meeting as a spectator. In a video on
Seibert had already been criticized by Israel in the past after he was present as a private citizen at an alternative memorial event for Israeli and Palestinian families. They remembered their relatives who had been killed in the conflict on both sides. Some ultra-right demonstrators then disrupted an event that was taking place there in June with loud protests in front of the ambassador’s residence in Herzliya.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Olaf Scholz was asked about the case at the United Nations on Tuesday and defended Seibert: The German ambassador was “a very committed man.” The Chancellor continued that he had “clear principles.” “And I think everyone knows that, including in Israel.” Scholz will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York on Tuesday.