Status: 03/16/2023 3:42 p.m
During his visit to Germany, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was also confronted with criticism of the planned restructuring of the judiciary. Chancellor Scholz and Central Council boss Schuster express their concern. Critics want to demonstrate in Berlin.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commemorated the victims of the Holocaust together with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. At the beginning of Netanyahu’s visit to Germany, they visited the Gleis 17 memorial at Grunewald train station, from where around 10,000 Jews were deported by train to concentration and extermination camps. Germany will not forget the responsibility “that we have from this story and will always live up to it,” said Scholz.
During the visit to the memorial, Netanyahu emphasized the importance of Israel’s ability to defend itself. “We know that the calls for the annihilation of Israel have not stopped,” he said. An important lesson from the Holocaust is to counter such threats early in order to prevent catastrophes. The head of government thanked Germany for its partnership and Chancellor Scholz for the reception.
Protests against Netanyahu’s visit
Various protests are planned during Netanyahu’s visit, mainly over the Israeli government’s attacks on the judiciary and separation of powers in the country. Tens of thousands of Israelis have been taking to the streets for weeks to prevent the judiciary from being weakened. At the same time as Netanyahu’s visit to Berlin, thousands of people protested in several Israeli cities.
Concern about Iran, Middle East conflict and judicial reform
At a joint press conference, Scholz expressed his sympathy for the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Israel and the West Bank, but also emphasized concern about a further escalation of the Middle East conflict. “We are dismayed by this blind violence. It must be countered with the consistency of the rule of law, but not with unbridled vigilante justice,” said Scholz. Germany is calling on all sides not to escalate the conflict any further – this also includes stopping construction on further settlements.
The federal government is following the so-called judicial reform in Israel “with great concern,” said Scholz. The independence of the judiciary is a valuable asset. Scholz praised President Herzog’s attempt to find a compromise: “As friends of Israel, we would wish that the last word had not yet been spoken,” said Scholz. From the German point of view, the broadest possible consensus is desirable, but there will be no interference in Israel’s domestic affairs.
There is agreement on the concern about the Iranian nuclear program, which has recently made good progress. “We are in complete agreement with Israel that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons,” said Scholz. But the top priority is a diplomatic solution.
Netanyahu tries to calm down critics
Netanyahu made it clear: “We have a fanatical regime that wants to destroy the Jewish state,” he said. The Jewish people will not allow a second Holocaust. Israel will do everything to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Regarding the criticism of the Israeli government’s judicial reform, also from the journalists present, Netanyahu explained that Israel is and will remain a liberal democracy. There is an independent judiciary, but many think it is too powerful. Once the reform is completed, Israel will have a judiciary comparable to that of other countries, such as Germany. There is no threat of a break with democracy, such as the Israeli opposition fears.
Criticism of Israel’s judicial reform also in Germany
According to his own statements, during the visit to the memorial at Grunewald train station, the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, addressed the judicial reform at Netanyahu. “I have expressed my concern to the prime minister that his government is increasingly dividing Israeli society and is losing trust in democratic Israel,” Schuster said after the meeting. “Jews in Germany and around the world stand firmly with Israel and want to continue doing so.”