"It endangers Israel's security." Germany calls for avoiding a military attack on the West Bank

"It endangers Israel's security." Germany calls for avoiding a military attack on the West Bank

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on the Israeli government on Friday to avoid launching a military attack on the West Bank, similar to the attack on the Gaza Strip.

During a press conference with her Israeli counterpart, Yisrael Katz, Baerbock said that "some members of the Israeli government are calling for a Gaza-like operation in the West Bank," adding: "This would greatly endanger Israel's security."

The German minister pointed out that her country and the European Union are trying to strengthen the Palestinian administration, but some in the Israeli government claim that strengthening the Palestinian administration is a "reward for terrorism." She stressed that they are working to strengthen the Palestinian administration because of their firm belief that this will be a sincere step towards the Palestinian state and at the same time to ensure Israel's security and combat terrorism.

Baerbock criticized the provocative statements of far-right ministers in Israel, their calls to overthrow the Palestinian administration, and their plans to build new settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. She stressed the need to ease tensions in the West Bank and build trust with partners in the region.

She stressed that the first step to building confidence is for Israel to take clearer steps against acts of violence committed by extremist settlers, as Israeli estimates indicate that more than 720,000 settlers live in settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Since the outbreak of the war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, the Israeli occupation army and settlers have escalated their attacks on Palestinian citizens and their property in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

During these attacks, the occupation army and settlers killed no less than 691 Palestinians and injured more than 5,700, while the occupation army arrested more than 10,400, according to official Palestinian data.