Steffen Seibert, the former German ambassador to Israel, has leveled unusually sharp criticism against the Israeli government since his return. Speaking to “Zeitmagazin”, he characterized the settlement policy as amounting to “expulsion using means of psychological and real violence.”
Addressing the late Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phrase, “Israel’s security is part of the German state interest,” Seibert clarified that Germany’s commitment applies only to Israel within its internationally recognized borders. He stated that this commitment does not extend to settlers in the West Bank, calling these settlements illegal under international law. He argued that these actions are driven by an ideology-the belief that “this is solely our land, gifted to us by God”-and that the state interest should not support a sense of superiority over another population. He added that the right of the Israeli people to live in its own state must be respected, just as the rights of Palestinians must also be acknowledged.
Seibert called for a fundamental change in Germany’s policy towards Israel. He emphasized the need to clearly define what it means for Germany to support Israel. While admitting that for decades Germany has correctly spoken of Israel as the sole democracy in the region, he cautioned that this support does not encompass all of Israel’s state actions, particularly the ongoing occupation, which approaches its 60th year.
He maintained that he is against boycotts and measures that restrict scientific exchange. Instead, Seibert believes the focus should be on implementing targeted actions that more clearly demonstrate Germany’s rejection of the destructive settlement policy.
