According to a report by the Times of Israel on Tuesday 5 May, 2026, during a visit to Berlin on Tuesday, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar sought to strike a reassuring tone on a range of sensitive issues — from religious freedom at home to regional tensions abroad.
Standing alongside his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, Sa’ar emphasized that Christian communities in Israel are not only secure but thriving. He made it clear that any acts of violence targeting Christians would be met with firm consequences, stressing that such behavior would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
But the conversation didn’t stay on domestic matters for long. Sa’ar shifted focus to the broader Middle East, sharply criticizing Iran over recent actions. He accused Tehran of launching what he described as unprovoked attacks against the United Arab Emirates and warned that interference with maritime routes could destabilize far more than just the region. According to him, threats to freedom of navigation, if left unchecked, risk spilling over into a wider global problem.
Then there was Lebanon. Sa’ar placed responsibility for ongoing hostilities squarely on Hezbollah, revisiting Israel’s past withdrawals from southern Lebanon in 2000 and Gaza in 2005. Those moves, he suggested, were meant to reduce friction — yet attacks have continued from those same areas. In his view, countries and actors that once backed those withdrawals should now support Israel when it faces threats emanating from them.
He was equally blunt about Israel’s intentions, or lack thereof, in Lebanon. “Israel has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon,” he said, while also criticizing Beirut for what he described as insufficient efforts to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. He pointed to weapons stockpiles allegedly hidden in civilian homes and underground networks, arguing that attempts to address the issue have been minimal.
Even so, Sa’ar made a point of highlighting the strong ties between Israel and Germany. He described the relationship as multifaceted — spanning defense, intelligence, and economic cooperation. Israeli technology, he noted, plays a role in German security across air, land, and sea, from missile defense systems to unmanned platforms and naval capabilities.
He added that intelligence-sharing between the two countries has helped thwart attacks and save lives in Germany, underscoring what he framed as a partnership that goes beyond diplomacy into tangible, everyday security……See More
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