IsraelAccording to an Israeli representative, a formal complaint has been filed in Berlin against the German ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert. The reason for this is Seibert’s attendance as a spectator at a historic consultation of the Supreme Court in Jerusalem. This is perceived as interference in Israel’s internal affairs.
The complaint of the Foreign Minister Eli Cohen was conveyed through the Israeli ambassador in Berlin, Ron Prosor. A reporter from the Israeli TV channel Channel 13 had reported on the incident on the platform X (formerly Twitter).
Israels oberstes Gericht hatte sich am Dienstag in einer historischen Gerichtsverhandlung mit einem höchst umstrittenen Justizumbau der rechts-religiösen Regierung befasst. Erstmals in der Geschichte des Landes kamen alle 15 Richter zusammen, um über acht Petitionen gegen eine verabschiedete Grundgesetzänderung zu beraten. Zum Ende der fast 14-stündigen Sitzung gewährte die Vorsitzende Richterin Esther Chajut eine Frist von 21 Tagen zur Einreichung von Ergänzungen. Erst danach wird mit einer Entscheidung gerechnet.
During the meeting, Seibert was also present as a spectator. In a video on X, he said in Hebrew, „I believe something important is happening here for Israel’s democracy. As friends of Israel, we are watching the Supreme Court with great interest. I wanted to see it for myself.“
Seibert had previously been criticized by Israeli authorities for attending an alternative memorial event with Israeli and Palestinian families as a private individual. They were commemorating their loved ones who had been killed in the conflict between both sides. In June, some far-right protesters disrupted an event taking place at the ambassador’s residence in Herzlia with loud protests.