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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Source: www.stern.de
