Visit to the Middle East - Söder defends Israel's fight against Hamas
Regardless of the United Nations' call for a ceasefire, CSU leader Markus Söder has backed Israel's actions in the Gaza war. "Of course we also sympathize with the people in the Gaza Strip, with the civilian victims," said Söder shortly before his departure in Munich. "Nevertheless, we believe that Israel has a right to self-defense and that it is necessary to focus on security now."
Söder arrived in Israel on Wednesday afternoon for a short visit. The Bavarian Minister President began his visit with a meeting with Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. Söder emphasized that he wanted to send a conscious signal with his visit to Jerusalem. It was very important to him personally, but also to the Bavarian state government, to show solidarity with Israel and solidarity with Jewish life.
The clear backing from Bavaria - even though it is only a German state - is likely to go down well in Israel. In view of the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip, the state is losing international support for its war against Hamas. At the UN General Assembly, more than 150 countries called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, which Israel indignantly rejected. Germany abstained, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), like Söder, reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself.
Söder is also scheduled to meet with Israeli President Izchak Herzog on Thursday. The program also includes a visit to a kibbutz in the restricted military area in the immediate vicinity of the embattled Gaza Strip. This is precisely where massacres by Hamas terrorists and other groups triggered the Gaza war on October 7. More than 1,200 people were killed in the attacks, which were unprecedented in Israeli history. Israel then launched massive air strikes and later a ground offensive.
According to the United Nations (UN), the EU and the World Health Organization (WHO), the situation in the Gaza Strip is becoming increasingly catastrophic. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell even described the situation as apocalyptic.
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- The United Nations, along with the EU and the World Health Organization, has expressed concern over the worsening situation in the Gaza Strip, which is under conflict due to actions from groups like Hamas.
- Germany, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, has maintained its support for Israel's right to self-defense in the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, particularly in Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories.
- During his visit to Israel, Bavarian Minister President Markus Söder met with Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to reaffirm their solidarity with Israel and Jewish life, despite calls for a ceasefire from the UN and other international bodies.
- Söder's visit to Jerusalem is seen as a significant gesture of support for Israel during its ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, a move that has been welcomed by many in the Middle East and beyond.
- The situation in the Gaza Strip has garnered widespread international attention, with more than 150 countries calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire at the UN General Assembly, a request that Israel has rejected.
- The violence in the Gaza Strip has resulted in significant casualties, with over 1,200 people reportedly killed in the attacks, which began on October 7.
- As the conflict continues, the German state of Bavaria, led by Söder, has remained steadfast in its support for Israel's right to self-defense, a position that aligns with the stance of many other European nations and global leaders.
- Markus Söder's visit to Israel, as well as Germany's continued backing of Israel, has been covered extensively by international media outlets, including Focus Magazine in Munich, Germany.
Source: www.stern.de
