Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor condemned this morning (Tuesday) the strong response of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich against German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After Chancellor Meretz directly criticized the government's policy in Judea and Samaria and revealed that he had demanded in a conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu to impose a ban on "de facto annexation" in Judea and Samaria - Smotrich responded sharply last night on the X network: "The days when the Germans determined for Jews where they were allowed or forbidden to live are over and will not return. You will not force ghettos on us again, certainly not in our own country.".<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prosor said: "I want to condemn this unequivocally. It is possible and completely legitimate to argue with the Germans, especially on this day, which is very emotional. But things like this are exactly what erodes the memory of the Holocaust and presents things in a completely distorted way.".<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ambassador emphasized: "I and everyone have great criticism of the rise in anti-Semitism in Germany and the denial of the very existence of Israel.". <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, he noted, relations between Israel and Germany are still warmer than relations with other European powers: "There is a political debate all the time, but Meretz is a great friend of Israel. Many things that Germany does are unacceptable to us - and things that we do are also unacceptable to them. But Germany has proven, especially with all the criticism against Israel in Europe, that it is our number one friend.".<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smotrich, for his part, did not back down from his strong message:<\/p>\n\n\n\n