Yad Vashem: Baerbock commemorates the victims of the Holocaust

Foreign Minister Baerbock commemorated the victims of the Nazi era at the Yad Vashem memorial. Her voice faltered several times. She warned to keep the memories alive and called for fighting anti-Semitism.

At the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Israel, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock commemorated the six million Jews murdered by Nazi Germany and called for a determined fight against anti-Semitism. “It is our absolute obligation, especially as a younger generation, to keep the memory alive, especially when there are fewer and fewer eyewitnesses among us,” she said in Jerusalem.

“And it is our responsibility to raise our voice against anti-Semitism, against hate and hate speech, against exclusion and violence, so that such a crime against humanity is never repeated,” said Baerbock. So that the children of this earth all have a future.”

“Don’t be silent”

Baerbock’s voice faltered a few times. It seemed like she was fighting back tears. “The thought of the pain of every single child, every single mother, every single father is almost unbearable,” she said. “But Yad Vashem, the painful place, is asking us not to remain silent, not to stand still. Yad Vashem urges us to hear the voices of those who have experienced the horror themselves and to pass on their words.”

The minister also visited the monument to the children. When she spoke in her statement about the Jewish children among the Holocaust victims, Baerbock’s voice faltered.

At the start of her inaugural visit to Israel and the Middle East, the Green politician lit a commemorative flame in the Hall of Remembrance and laid a wreath. A meeting was then scheduled with Foreign Minister Jair Lapid and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

Baerbock emphasizes historical responsibility

Even before leaving for her three-day inaugural trip to Israel, Jordan and Egypt, Baerbock had assured: “We stand by our special historical responsibility for Israel’s security and will continue to make contributions in solidarity.” It borders on a miracle that young people in particular in both countries are so close today.

An intensified youth exchange should also secure this treasure for future generations – “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,” said Baerbock.

Talks with Palestinian President Abbas

Baerbock also plans to visit the Palestinian territories. There she wants to hold talks with President Mahmoud Abbas and Foreign Minister Riyadh Malki. The meetings will take place in Ramallah in the West Bank.

Baerbock announced that she wanted to bring new impetus to the Middle East peace process that had 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,” she said.

The peace process between Israel and the Palestinians has been largely idle since 2014.