Israel fears renewed diplomatic crisis with Germany

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s upcoming trip to Tel Aviv is of special significance given the fact that is occurs at a time when there are increasing indicators of the crisis between the two sides reaching unprecedented levels.

The visit of Sigmar Gabriel, Germany’s foreign minister, to Tel Aviv last week, sparked signs of a crisis between the two countries, which have had close relations for over 50 years.

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, cancelled a meeting between himself and Gabriel due to the fact that the latter insisted on meeting representatives from B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence, both organisations which are active in exposing Israel’s violations against Palestinians.

With the approach of the German official’s visit to Tel Aviv next week, there are Israeli fears of re-igniting tensions between the two sides, especially given his refusal to promise not to meet with the human rights organisations, against the Israeli government’s wishes.

Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported in today’s issue that Tel Aviv contacted the German official’s office to ask about the possibility of him meeting with left-wing Israeli organisations during his upcoming visit, but his office refused to make any promises in this regard.

The newspaper noted that the lack of a set agenda for the visit raises the concern of the official Israeli parities.

On their part, Israeli political sources expect Steinmeier to refrain from meeting organisations which expose Israeli violations while visiting Tel Aviv to avoid a diplomatic crisis between the two sides.