Germany supports ceasefire in Middle East
In a joint statement, Germany and other states have called for de-escalation between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group.
Berlin/Beirut/Tel Aviv (BPA/dpa/d.de) – Together with the US, the EU, Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, Germany has called for a three-week ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group. The joint statement by the group of states is addressed to all parties to the conflict, and explicitly also to “the governments of Israel and Lebanon“.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken on the phone with Najib Mikati, the prime minister of the Republic of Lebanon, to discuss the matter. According to a German government press release, he expressed his great concern about the escalation of the conflict and emphasised the danger of a regional conflagration. He also expressed his sympathy to the prime minister for the suffering and death of innocent civilians in Lebanon. The chancellor stressed that a diplomatic solution to the conflict was possible. A way must be found via a ceasefire to fully enforce UN Security Resolution 1701, he said. He explained that this would require Hezbollah to withdraw from the area bordering Israel. Iran also bears responsibility for de-escalating the situation, he added. Scholz believes that the goal must be to enable people in Israel and Lebanon to live in peace and security.