Israeli officials have uniformly rejected unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, arguing that it rewards terrorism and undermines Israel\u2019s leverage in ongoing efforts to free the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\tBy signing up, you agree to the terms<\/a><\/p>\n National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir responded in no subtle terms to Wadephul\u2019s remarks, writing in a Hebrew-language post on X: \u201c80 years after the Holocaust, and Germany is returning to supporting Nazism.\u201d<\/p>\n Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar called the far-right politician\u2019s remarks \u201cunnecessary and harmful\u201d after meeting his German counterpart in Jerusalem Thursday evening.<\/p>\n \t British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron hold a joint press conference in London, July 10, 2025. (Leon Neal\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/p>\n \u201cGermany is a friendly country, and Foreign Minister Wadephul is a friend of Israel. This does not change even when there are disagreements between us,\u201d wrote Sa\u2019ar in a Hebrew-language post on X.<\/p>\n Around 145 countries now recognize or plan to recognize Palestinian statehood.\u00a0 The White House on Wednesday reiterated that US President Donald Trump would not be doing so.<\/p>\n Wadephul said the trip to Israel and the West Bank came after \u201ca joint decision of the security cabinet, to consult with my counterparts\u201d on \u201cthe dramatically worsening\u201d humanitarian situation in Gaza.<\/p>\n He added that \u201cIsrael is finding itself increasingly in the minority\u201d after the recent UN conference on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict \u2014 boycotted by the US and Israel.<\/p>\n \u201cIn view of the open threats of annexation by some in the Israeli government, a growing number of European countries are ready to recognize a state of Palestine without prior negotiations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Wadephul met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sa\u2019ar later Thursday in Jerusalem, and is set to hold meetings in the West Bank on Friday before returning to Germany, according to the German embassy.<\/p>\n \t German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, right, and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar attend a joint press conference at the German foreign ministry in Berlin, on June 5, 2025. (John MACDOUGALL \/ AFP)<\/p>\n The minister said he will focus on \u201cthree messages\u201d during his trip: that Hamas release the remaining hostages in Gaza \u2014 \u201camong them also German citizens\u201d \u2014 and give up its military and political power; that Israel \u201ctake swift, comprehensive, and lasting action to alleviate the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip\u201d; and that a two-state solution process must urgently be set in motion.<\/p>\n Wadephul\u2019s trip had not been previously announced, and follows German Chancellor Friedrich Merz\u2019s statements earlier this week that Germany, France and the United Kingdom were considering sending their foreign ministers to Israel on August 7 in an attempt to ramp up international pressure over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will probably ask the three foreign ministers [to] travel to Israel together next Thursday to present the position of\u2026 the three governments,\u201d Merz said, adding that two of his country\u2019s aircraft were en route to Jordan to help fly aid missions to Gaza.<\/p>\n No plans have been announced for visits by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy or his French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot.<\/p>\n
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