[T. Belman. Netanyahu should not back down.]
In Israel, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel won’t back down from meeting representatives of left-wing organizations
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ultimatum on Tuesday, saying it would be “regrettable” if the latter decides to cancel their meeting because of Gabriel’s meeting with representatives of left-wing Israeli organizations.
Speaking to German TV network ZDF, Gabriel defined his planned meetings with representatives of B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence as “totally normal.”
Gabriel, currently in Israel, said he had only learned of Netanyahu’s threat from the media and noted it would be “inconceivable” for the German minister to cancel a meeting with the Israeli leader if the latter met with figures critical of the German government. He nevertheless said “it wouldn’t be a catastrophe” if their meeting is canceled, and that it wouldn’t change his ties with Israel.
“You never get the full picture of any state in the world if you just meet with figures in government ministries,” he said.
Netanyahu is demanding that Gabriel, who arrived on Monday for a visit to Israel, cancel his planned meeting on Tuesday with representatives of B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence.
Senior officials in the Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu issued an ultimatum to Gabriel, saying that if the latter does not cancel his meetings with the left-wing groups, the prime minister won’t meet with him. The ultimatum was first reported by Israel Channel 2 News.
roamnrab Said:
what involvement did nutunyahoo, B. have to do with antebi?
Gabriel is at once “totally normal” (for an EU politician) and “totally wicked”, to waste a state visit to Israel, visiting only the leftist version of Neturei Karta. I see the Western world, including many diaspora Jews, as the biggest threat to Israel (and to Bible-believing Christians as well). The Arabs and Iranians are less of a problem.
Soon enough Netanyahu will crawl back into compliance.
Meanwhile the German element must be at least smacked down so to make sure that the Germans know that game is over.
Only capos and Judenrat can possibly believe and try to sell that those creatures have actually changed.
I have visited Germany and not only Berlin but many small towns way out of the general reach by visitors.
NOTHING has changed in Germany.
While it lasts… Well done Netanyahu.
about time. Europe cannot support anti-elected government groups and expect normal relations. We should do the same with Russia. Inter-nation isagreements should be expressed via diplomatic channels, not provocations.@ roamnrab:
This is THE FIRST courageous thing Bibi has done since Antebi.