Let's Talk About Hamburg's Visit to Israel - No Holding Back
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German Head of State Veit in Israel: Evasion is Impermissible - Enhancing the Count of EU-Backed Initiatives through Additional Funding, Suggests Commission
In the midst of the fierce criticism towards Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip, Hamburg's Parliament President Carola Veit is urging patience. "We need to keep a cool head," she told the German Press Agency during her four-day visit to Israel. Germany boasts an extraordinary unparalleled relationship with no other nation. Prior to her visit, Veit also paid a visit to the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.
Germany maintains a vital interest in a stable democracy in this region, Veit stated. "Avoiding confrontations is not an option. Now is the time for us to work together to discover a way to foster peace and guarantee safety for everyone within Israel."
Veit: Despair is all around, but it's not the end
Criticism of Israel's actions, against the backdrop of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, is growing even in Berlin. Israel is well aware of this, and it carries weight. "However, it's crucial to recognize that support for Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip is diminishing in Berlin as well," said Veit.
She noticed the tension during her visit to the Knesset. "The survival of the government coalition is at stake, and so is the question of whether the conflict can evolve into a constructive dialogue," she said.
The trauma on both sides runs deep. "Each side focuses on their own victims and losses. Suspicion and hate are rampant. Helplessness is palpable in the divided population," she stated. "There's no hope, but there's also no reason to lose hope."
Veit advocates for the planned Yad Vashem Education Center in Hamburg
During her visit to Yad Vashem, Veit discussed Hamburg's interest in becoming the site for the proposed German Yad Vashem Education Center with its chairman, Dani Dayan. The idea for such an educational institution was born from a meeting between Dayan and then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz in January 2023.
The new federal government has promised to aid in the establishment of such a center, as stated in its coalition agreement. The Hamburg government's coalition agreement also expresses an interest in hosting the Education Center.
Hamburg's relationship with the Jewish community is close, said Veit. "Our city's powerful remembrance work and support for Jewish life, along with our plans to rebuild the Bornplatz Synagogue, are clear indications of this," she said.
She continued, "Eighty years after the end of World War II and the atrocities of the Nazi era, something fresh, progressive must emerge from the memories. That's why Hamburg would also be an ideal location for the planned Education Center of the international memorial Yad Vashem."
Hamburg seeks to strengthen ties with Israeli cities
Invited by the Israeli ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, Veit's visit to Israel was not affected by the war following the terrorist attack by the radical Islamic Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023. "We stand with our friends, even in times of danger. We don't abandon our allies in troubled times and don't wait for easier, safer times," said Veit.
Moreover, Hamburg has been planning for quite some time to connect with Israeli cities and strengthen existing ties. "For example, there are excellent contacts in the realm of science with the region around Haifa," said the parliamentary president. These collaborations could be expanded to include areas such as the economy and youth exchange. "And with other regions - hence my recent visit to Ashdod and Be'er Sheva." Veit is expected back in Hamburg this Friday.
- Israel
- Carola Veit
- Hamburg
- Yad Vashem
- Germany
- Memorial
- Gaza Strip
- Jerusalem
- German Press Agency
- Coalition Agreement
- Relationship
- Berlin
- Knesset
[1] Source: German Criticism of Israel Growing[2] Source: Germany's Shift in Israel Policy[3] Source: Hamburg Sustainability Conference[4] Source: Hamburg City Council's Coalition Agreement[5] Source: Hamburg-Israel Relations
- The politics surrounding Germany's employment policy towards Israel are evolving, with Berlin's growing criticism of Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip impacting its stance.
- Despite the tension, Hamburg's Parliament President Carola Veit emphasizes the importance of maintaining a steady relationship with Israel, advocating for collaboration to foster peace and ensure safety for all.
