German ambassador: 'It's not a coincidence that so many Israelis are considering moving abroad'

Sep 22, 2025

Steffen Seibert, the German ambassador to Israel and former government spokesperson, shares insights on the evolving dynamics between Germany and Israel, particularly post-Gaza war. He expresses concerns over rising antisemitism across Europe and the mounting exhaustion in Israel's society. Seibert emphasizes Germany’s critical stance on war escalation while reiterating unwavering friendship towards Israel. He also discusses democratic principles, drawing contrasts between German and American approaches to free speech and the importance of democratic guardrails in turbulent times.

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ANECDOTE

Hebrew Spoken In Fear In Berlin

Seibert recounts a Berlin bus-stop encounter where an Israeli tourist feared speaking Hebrew publicly.
He frames that fear as a troubling sign and something Europeans must prevent becoming normal.

INSIGHT

Multiple Sources Of Antisemitism

Seibert explains antisemitism in Germany stems from multiple sources: historic right-wing, some campus leftist forms, and Islamist pockets.
He stresses not to conflate all Muslim immigrants with antisemitism and calls for targeted strictness where it exists.

INSIGHT

Media Shapes European Perception

Seibert notes German public opinion shifted from strong support for Israel after October 7 to increasing criticism due to civilian suffering in Gaza.
He attributes this to different media imagery in Europe showing Gaza civilian suffering more prominently.

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In a special guest episode of the Haaretz Podcast, German ambassador Steffen Seibert sits down with Guy Rolnik and Anat Georgy, co-hosts of “The Markers” – the Hebrew-language podcast of Haaretz’s sister publication, The Marker.

In the interview, Seibert addressed the increasingly complicated relationship between the two countries since the Gaza war and said he was “not optimistic” about Israel’s future if its government continues in its current direction.

“My country is very clearly against the extension and escalation of the war," Seibert said.

At the same time, he expressed both affection and sympathy for the “exhausted” citizens of the Jewish state and concerns about growing antisemitism across Europe.

“It's a difficult time to be an Israeli. The idea that when you go abroad as a tourist, you have to worry about your personal safety, and you have to worry if it's okay to speak Hebrew in the street – this is horrible, and it is a challenge to all of us Europeans to make sure that that doesn't become the new reality forever.”

Rolnik and Georgy also engaged in an in-depth exchange with Seibert on the nature of German democracy and what Israel might learn from it as it wrestles with the judicial reform crisis and when free speech crosses the line and becomes incitement.

Ultimately, he said, despite Germany’s “serious disagreements” regarding both Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank, “the fact remains that we consider ourselves forever friends of Israel and supporters of the right of Israel to be here, to be safe and to have this Jewish and democratic state. This is not a fashion in German politics. This is one of the pillars of our political identity.”

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