Israel continues without turning the page on the statements of the president, Pedro Sánchez, and the Belgian prime minister, Alexander De Croo. On this occasion it was the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, who praised the visit of the German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who arrived this Sunday in Jerusalem, and contrasted his support with “hypocrisy” and “double standards.” of other European leaders, in a veiled reference by De Croo and Sánchez.
Herzog has thus thanked Steinmeier for the “clear stance” of the German Government “on Israel’s right to defend itself” in contrast to other leaders of EU countries.
Israel summoned the ambassadors of Spain and Belgium on Friday in response to the “false” statements made in recent hours by Sánchez and De Croo, as they consider it to be “support for terrorism” by Hamas.
The Spanish president pointed out that “the indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians, including thousands of boys and girls, is totally unacceptable,” and ended his tour of the Middle East by opening the door for Spain to recognize the Palestinian State.
This Sunday Herzog received Steinmeier in Jerusalem, with whom he shares a personal friendship. “Your visit is an expression of the firm alliance between our countries,” he declared before describing the German leader as a “true friend.”
The German president, for his part, reiterated his country’s unwavering support for Israel at the beginning of his visit. Steinmeier will spend two days in Israel and then visit Qatar and Oman.
“We are in solidarity with Israel. It is not only that Israel is a victim of terrorism. Our solidarity is also with Israel that defends itself, that fights against an existential threat,” Steinmeier declared at a joint press conference from Jerusalem with his counterpart, Isaac Herzog.
The German president has highlighted the need to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip and ensure that their basic needs are covered. “It is mandatory under International Humanitarian Law,” he pointed out, and that is why he has defended the current truce agreement.
“Israel has the right to defend itself and guarantee its existence,” he noted in reference to the October 7 attacks led by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), and the “unprecedented deep wounds” they have left. “The terrorist organization Hamas can never achieve its stated goal, which is the annihilation of Israel,” she said.
