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Jerusalem (dpa -Afx) – Israel’s security as German state rush, clear announcements to the government of Benjamin Netanyahu as far as the Palestinians are concerned: for the new German Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul, the inaugural visit to Jerusalem is a diplomatic wire rope act. The CDU man is welcomed in a friendly manner in both Israel and West Bank. The relationship between his predecessor Annalena Baerbock (Greens) and Netanyahu was recently considered broken.
WadePhul urged the Israeli government at a meeting with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to get into serious negotiations on an armistice in the Gaza Strip again. With a view to the military approach to Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip that has been stricter since March, he said: “I am not sure whether all strategic goals of Israel can be achieved whether this serves in the long term of Israel’s security.”
Netanyahu: “Excellent relationships” to Germany
Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke of excellent relationships between the two countries at the meeting. “We have many common interests, many common values and many common challenges,” he said. After the conversation, WadePhul emphasized that Netanyahu also knew that there is an urgent need for action in the humanitarian area.
WadePhul: I try for good relationships in the Arab world
Everyone knew that Germany has a special role in the side of Israel, said WadePhul. However, Germany is “responsible for all Palestinians not only because of international law, but also because of fundamental questions of humanity, who suffer a lot here”. He wants to strive for good diplomatic relationships into the entire Arab world.
It was the first meeting of WadePhul as Foreign Minister with Netanyahu
– Last year he had the prime minister together with
CDU boss Friedrich Merz met. The visit of WadePhul stands against the background of the celebrations that are upcoming this week to accommodate diplomatic relationships between Germany and Israel 60 years ago.
Care of the Gaza Strip: No behavior contrary to international law
WadePhul showed understanding of the Israeli approach that auxiliary deliveries should serve people and not the Hamas, who had also misused it in the past. Germany will support Israel’s procedure pragmatically and flexibly to supply the Palestinians.
There had also been criticism of the Israeli supply plans for the Gaza Strip on the UN side. WadePhul announced that he will speak to UN General Secretary António Guterres this Tuesday in Berlin. “It is now really about achieving something for people. And by the Israeli government is now taking this step, it is also completely clear that you cannot accuse the behavior that is contrary to international law.”
Requirements for peace solution made clear
WadePhul made the German ideas for a peace solution between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. A political solution for the reconstruction of the large -scale area is needed without the Hamas, from which no threats to Israel should go out. The Arabic reconstruction plan with a strong role of the Palestinian Authority (PA) is a good starting point for this. WadePhul called the PA to the legitimate representative of the Palestinians, who enforce reforms and also take responsibility in the Gaza strip.
It was also clear that the Gaza Strip had to remain part of the Palestinian areas, emphasized WadePhul in view of fears that Israel wanted to drive out the Palestinians or occupy the narrow country strips permanently. He had agreed with the Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar that the Palestinians there were “forced to leave this area by anyone”. The presence of the Israeli army will be temporary – there was also agreement on it. The right -wing extremist Israeli Finance Minister Bezhalel Smotrich recently threatened to destroy the Gaza Strip and displace the residents.
Against incorrect settlement construction
WadePhul made itself strong for a two -state solution as a “best chance for a life in peace, security and dignity for Israelis as well as for Palestinians”. He warned that this should “neither be advanced by driving forward of the settlement building that is contrary to international law, nor by premature recognition of a Palestinian state”. The two -state solution means an independent Palestinian state that occurs peacefully side by side with Israel. Netanyahu rejects such a solution, as does Hamas.
30 million for Palestinian civilian population
Germany provides a further 30 million euros in humanitarian aid for the needy civilian population in the Palestinian areas. This was announced after a meeting with the Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa in Ramallah in the West Bank. The money is provided, among other things, for life -saving food aid, water supply, health and emergency accommodation.
Together with this money, Germany, with 333 million euros, has been one of the largest humanitarian donors in the Palestinian areas since October 2023.
Wade phulic in Yad Vashem: to get up against anti -Semitism
In the Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, WadePhul laid a wreath to commemorate the six million Jews murdered by Nazi Germany. He called on “standing up against anti -Semitism together and shaping the future on the basis of the indivisible humanity”. It was the fourth visit to WadePhul in Yad Vashem.
Minister visits the battery of the Arrow 3 rocket defense system
Accompanied by Saar, the Israelis WadePhul demonstrated an active battery of the Arrow 3 air defense system (German: Pfeil). The minister received an introduction to the system, which will also be used by Germany in the future. The “arrow” can destroy missiles at over 100 kilometers, i.e. outside the atmosphere and in the beginning of space. Arrow 3 is said to be at three different locations in Germany.
Meeting with members of Hamas-Geiseln
Immediately after the arrival on Saturday evening, WadePhul in Tel Aviv came together with members of hostages, which are captured by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. According to the latest information from Netanyahu, 21 hostages are still alive in the Gaza Strip. Among the remaining hostages should still be a high single -digit number, which also has German citizenship. It is reportedly unclear whether they are still alive or not./BK/le/dp/men