It is a symbolic visit: Accompanied by Bundestag President Bas, Federal President Steinmeier demonstrates his solidarity with Israel. The country is fighting an existential threat – and has every right to defend itself.
Germany stands on Israel’s side – Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier made this clear during his visit to Israel. “Our solidarity with Israel applies,” he said in Jerusalem at a press conference with Israeli President Izchak Herzog.
“It is not just with Israel as a victim of terror. Our solidarity also applies to Israel that is defending itself, that is fighting against an existential threat.” Steinmeier said this sentence in view of the criticism of Israel’s conduct of the war in the Gaza Strip, which has already cost thousands of civilian victims.
It is necessary to protect the civilians in the Gaza Strip and provide them with the essentials of life. “International humanitarian law requires this,” said the Federal President. That’s why it’s good that the agreed fire breaks are now being used for this purpose.
Herzog thanked Germany for its “clear stance”
Steinmeier once again emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense. The country has never been so deeply wounded as it was on October 7th and is fighting for its existence. “Israel has every right to defend itself and secure its existence,” said Steinmeier. “The terrorist organization Hamas must never achieve its declared goal, namely the annihilation of Israel.”
The Israeli president called Steinmeier a “true friend.” Both have known each other for many years. “Your visit is an expression of the solid alliance between our countries,” said Herzog, who described Hamas as a “beast” and “monster.” He thanked Steinmeier and the federal government for their “clear stance” on Israel’s right to defend itself – in contrast to the leaders of other EU countries who showed a “double standard” and “hypocrisy” towards Israel.
Steinmeier: Hamas wants Israel to be wiped out
Steinmeier’s visit seems as if he wanted to send a small sign of normality in these unusual times. He is not the first high-ranking German politician to visit Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7th. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has already been there, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) even three times.
But the Federal President is taking more time. He traveled for two days with his wife Elke Büdenbender and Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD). Immediately after their arrival, they met relatives of hostages in Jerusalem. Steinmeier has known many of them since their visit to Berlin.
visit of Palestinian Patients planned
Steinmeier’s program is also intended to show that he sees the suffering of the Palestinian population. This Monday, after a visit to a kibbutz and a conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he wants to go to the Auguste Viktoria Hospital in East Jerusalem. The clinic is treating almost 100 Palestinian patients who are now unable to return to their relatives.
After his visit to Israel, the Federal President plans to travel to Oman and Qatar. There he wants to speak to Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Qatar has close contacts with Hamas and plays an important role as a mediator, for example in the release of the hostages kidnapped to Gaza.
Steinmeier said in a video message published before his departure that he wanted to talk in Qatar about how the negotiations could now continue. “The way to end the fight will and can only be through the release of the hostages. All of the hostages!” The Israeli president made a similar statement: “As a state and as a people, we want to ensure that all but the last abductee come back to us.”