(TPS) Prime Minister Yair Lapid was received on Monday by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, with an honor guard that played Israel’s national anthem “Hatikva.” Lapid also met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and with the German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. In Germany, Lapid brought up the danger posed to the entire world by the possibility of a nuclear-armed Iran.
The Prime Minister expressed the importance of continuing the fight against Iran’s nuclear program and of strengthening the strategic partnership between Israel and Germany:
“Israel and Germany share a special relationship. As we remember our past, our strategic partnership helps us take on shared challenges and pursue our shared vision for the future.
“First among these shared challenges is the Iranian threat. A nuclear Iran will destabilize the region and create a nuclear arms race that will endanger the whole world. It’s time to move past the failed negotiations with Iran. We need a new strategy to stop its nuclear program.”
Lapid presented the Chancellor with sensitive and relevant intelligence information on the subject of Iran.
“Some will certainly say that a military partnership between Germany and Israel is a historical irony,” quipped Lapid, but he stressed the need for a united front against Iran. “I consider it to be proof that we have drawn the necessary conclusions from the past: Talk does not stop evil.”
Lapid explained the importance of liberal democracies being willing and able to defend themselves, declaring:
“Sometimes, freedom must be defended with force. Our partnership also requires us to act together against the growing threat of Iran becoming a nuclear state.”
He said that Israel and Germany share the same goal of stopping Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and that “as always, in our close relations with Germany, we were granted full attention and full cooperation.”
The Israeli leader further explained:
“Removing sanctions and pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into Iran will bring waves of terrorism, not only to the Middle East, but also across Europe.
“There’s a better way forward for the Middle East than Iran’s vision of war, terror and extremism. It’s the path of the Abraham Accords and Negev Forum: a path based on a shared vision of peace, tolerance and cooperation,” declared Lapid, echoing similar comments made by Defense Minister Benny Gantz in New York on the same day.
“Our hand is outstretched for peace with all our neighbors.”
Prime Minister Lapid thanked President Steinmeier at their meeting Monday for standing with Israel in the fight against antisemitism, and for his work to reach an agreement with the families of the victims of the terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics.
Lapid also discussed the regional and security challenges posed by Iran in his meeting with German Foreign Minister Baerbock, and they discussed continuing cooperation between Israel and Germany and tightening bilateral ties in the fields of security, the economy, technology, and cooperation in the international arena.
Also participating in that meeting were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Idan Roll, National Security Council Director Dr. Eyal Hulata, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General Alon Ushpiz, Diplomatic Advisor Yair Zivan, Special Advisor Gili Haushner, and Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor.
