Security affair or reform? Netanyahu cuts short his visit to Berlin by a day

March 15, 2023   

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cut short his diplomatic visit to Berlin by a day - and will return to Israel tomorrow. The prime minister was supposed to return to Israel on Friday morning, but this afternoon (Wednesday) his office announced that he would leave Berlin tomorrow evening. The reason for the cut short visit was not given, but it appears that the progressing negotiations on a compromise on the issue of legal reform and the shadowy security affair led to the cut short visit. Netanyahu's departure to Berlin is also delayed - and has been postponed to 5:00 p.m. The Prime Minister's Office announced this afternoon that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently held a security consultation with Defense Minister Yoav Galant. Prime Minister Netanyahu has been monitoring and keeping up to date with security developments in recent days along with the top security officials. Yesterday, the Defense Minister's Office announced that Minister Yoav Galant held several situation assessments with the top security officials following the security events in recent days, including the attack near the Megiddo Junction in which Sharaf Aldin, a 21-year-old young man who is hospitalized in the neurosurgical intensive care unit at the Rambam Medical Center, was seriously injured. The army is considering allowing some of the details about the security affair in the north to be published. Netanyahu will depart for a state visit to the German capital, where he will meet with Chancellor Olaf Schulz. This is the first meeting between the two in their current positions, and is an expression of the special relations between Israel and Germany and cooperation in a variety of areas. The two leaders are expected to discuss a variety of political and security issues, primarily the Iranian issue and developments in the regional arena. Netanyahu will emphasize the need to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Prime Minister Netanyahu will also meet with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The visit to Berlin will open with a memorial ceremony for the victims of the Holocaust at Pier 17, with the participation of Prime Minister Netanyahu and German Chancellor Schulz.