Former Israeli ambassador to Germany, Schimon Stein, has urged the German government to take a firmer stance toward the Israeli administration. Speaking to Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), Stein argued that the German Foreign Minister must do more than simply outline expectations; Berlin must also take concrete measures if Israel fails to adhere to agreements. He suggested that Germany should consider advancing “sanctions against the far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir,” in addition to taking measures concerning goods originating from West Bank settlements.
According to the former senior Israeli diplomat, the Benjamin Netanyahu government needs to be prevented from creating facts through continued settlement expansion that could render a political solution impossible. While affirming that the two-state solution must remain the ultimate goal, Stein noted that Germany should also be open to alternative models, such as an Israeli-Palestinian confederation.
Stein maintains that while advocating for the existence and security of Israel, the German government must simultaneously push to stop the ongoing process of annexation. The former ambassador advised that before or immediately after the upcoming election, Berlin needs to articulate its expectations of the government clearly and unequivocally. He concluded by stating that the ambassador believes Germany should adopt a policy rooted in a “carrot and stick” approach.
