BERLIN: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will visit the Middle East next week, Berlin announced on Friday, as the Gaza war continues and fears of a broader regional conflict increase.
Baerbock is scheduled to travel to Israel on Monday, immediately following a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg, according to a foreign ministry spokeswoman. Upon her arrival in Israel, Baerbock, who has visited the region multiple times since the beginning of war on Gaza, will deliver a speech at the Herzliya Security Conference.
On Tuesday, she will hold meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa in Ramallah, located in the occupied West Bank. Baerbock will also meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz in Jerusalem.
Following her visit to Israel and the West Bank, Baerbock will head to Lebanon for talks with officials in Beirut, including the migration minister.
Baerbock’s discussions with officials will center on “the war in Gaza and the continuing catastrophic humanitarian situation,” as well as “the question of what a future could look like that allows Israelis and Palestinians to live together in safety,” the ministry spokeswoman stated.
Furthermore, the particularly tense and dangerous situation on the Israel-Lebanon border will be discussed during the trip.
The ongoing war on Gaza has resulted in severe humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territory and repeated UN warnings of famine. At least 37,431 Palestinians, mostly wome and children have been killed in the Israeli attacks since October 7, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
