The German daily newspaper, Tagesspiegel, on December 21, 2022, posted to its internet site an interview it had conducted with Israel’s new ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor. The interview addresses Israel’s relations not only with Germany but rather, by his replies to the questions, Prosor, as one of the country’s most experienced diplomats, provides a glimpse into Israel’s perspective on its geopolitical playing field.

The interview begins here [translation LOC]:

Mr. Prosor, you have been Israel’s Ambassador in Germany since August. Your family comes from Berlin, your grandparents lived in Wilmersdorf. Have you visited the streets of your ancestors?

My father was also born in Berlin! And my grandfather saw himself as a Prussian officer, as part of a German, patriotic family, that had little to do with Judaism in everyday life. It was my grandmother who, at the end of 1933, had the necessary foresight to say: It is wrong to remain in Germany.

I have actually visited Eisenzahnstraße 3 [Iron Tooth Street 3], where my grandparents lived. Anyway, since my taking office in August, I have been on the move in Berlin; I’ve visited the zoo, was at the opera, and have tried the cafes and restaurants. And I was at the Herta and Union stadiums and took in a Bundesliga game each.

You have announced, as your country’s ambassador, you want to further develop German-Israeli relations. How do you want to approach this?

I place great value on young people from both countries knowing each other better. In September, our two governments signed a Letter of Intent in Jerusalem to establish German-Israeli youth activities. My goal is that these mutual youth activities will become a reality in 2023. Therefore, as a first step, several school principals must be found in Germany and in Israel for the project.

Wie ist es generell um das deutsch-israelische Verhältnis bestellt?

After the USA, Germany is our most important partner. It is not just about the submarines that Germany is delivering to us. It is also about general security policy cooperation. For example, the Israeli and German air forces have exercised together for a long time already. And, not to forget – Germany is conducting discussions right now over the purchase of the Israeli missile defense system Arrow 3. This is a real turning point.

About the person

Ron Prosor belongs to Israel’s most profiled and experienced diplomats. He was born in 1958 in Kfar Saba near Tel Aviv. Indeed, he knows Germany from the time of the events that led to reunification. Between 1988 and 1992, he worked as spokesman at the embassy in Bonn. Top posts followed as Israel’s ambassador in London and at the United Nations in New York. Finally, he led the Abba-Eban-Institute for International Diplomacy at the Reichman University in Herzliya. Since August, Prosor serves as the ambassador to Germany. His first speech he delivered publicly at the Berlin Bebel Platz, the site of the book burning by the Nazis in 1933. The family fled to Palestine shortly after the Nazis seized power.

As far as?

Hardly anyone not that long ago could have imagined that Israel is possibly selling Germany an air defense system. The Jewish state, 75 years after its establishment, makes a contribution to the protection of the Federal Republic [of Germany] and Europe – that is something really special.

The Documenta, anti-Semitism, conspiracy ideologists of various tendencies– in Germany much again is being discussed about anti-Semitism. How do you perceive these debates?

Concerning the “Documenta 15” dispute it is very difficult to recognize the real problem because the anti-Semitism was coming from the left. From artists, who supposedly have the needs of the oppressed in view. With anti-Semitism from the right everything is much simpler. That is opposed in public since most agree. It’s more difficult with anti-Semitism from the left.

Because?

Because the Left are readily perceived as representatives of all that is good. Therefore, some needed more time to recognize Left anti-Semitism. Certainly, it is needed in such an atmosphere, but really, [it took] seven professors from a council of experts to determine that the presentation of a man with side locks and fangs or a soldier with a pig’s snout and a Mossad helmet are antisemitic? I think not.

Germans can be proud of how they are dealing with their past.

Does Germany in particular have difficulties in perceiving hostility toward Jews?

No, this is often worse in other countries. Germans can be proud of how they are dealing with their past. But one must direct more attention to anti-Semitism from the left. The anti-Semitism representative for the Federation, Felix Klein, is doing a good job, especially with the Federal government’s recently introduced national strategy against anti-Semitism and for Jewish life.

In your answer, a “but“ seems to resonate.

Not only is a double standard put on Israel, but rather, strictly speaking, a three-fold standard. By means of the first standard, autocrats and dictators are gauged, from whom little is expected. By means of the second standard, democrats are gauged, since critics can be harsher. Israel alone is viewed by means of the third standard. Here the bar is put so high that it is unattainable for every democratic state. This always gives Israel’s critics the opportunity to demonize and delegitimize Israel. This, in turn, in many places, has quiet boycotts as a consequence.

Quiet Boycotts?

For various occasions, Israelis simply are not invited. This makes absolutely no sense from the view of the artist because Israeli artists and scientists stand overwhelmingly far left from the mainstream in the Jewish state.

In certain cases, we Israelis are similar to Germans: we like to whine before certain events have even occurred.

The incoming government in Jerusalem is causing concern in Germany. It is considered the furthest right-leaning since the establishment of Israel. Will the victor of the election, Benjamin Netanyahu, continue to advance the Jewish settlement construction in the occupied areas?

Yes, that’s correct, the incoming government could be the furthest right-leaning. Indeed, remember, please: As Ariel Sharon became Premier in 2001, the excitement was great. He would eat Palestinians for breakfast, warned his opponents. Then, in 2004, he decided to have the Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip removed and to completely pull back from there unilaterally. Sharon did this, even though there was no contact person on the Palestinian side and in Israel, the settlers protested violently.

We are not of the same opinion as Europe in the settlements question (Wir sind in der Siedlungsfrage nicht der gleichen Ansicht wie Europa), especially when part of Jerusalem is being designated [a] settlement. First, we are just going to let the new government take up its work. In certain cases, we Israelis are similar to Germans: we like to whine before certain events have even occurred.

Germany will continue to demand a two-state solution.

Politicians readily demand a two-state solution. To the one state, they insist on a Jewish democratic state. But do they demand for the other one a democratic Palestinian state also? The answer is: no. A functioning rule of law should be a minimal demand on the Palestinians. Only thus can peace be achieved. We had hoped, if we pull out of Gaza, a stable state entity [would] come into existence there. This hope has proven to be an illusion (Diese Hoffnung hat sich als Illusion erwiesen.)

Why?

The Islamist Hamas is fighting us, building tunnels and sending suicide assassins to Israel through them, always firing missiles, again and again. In this way the equation is quite simple: when it remains peaceful in Israel, peace also rules in Gaza. But if our army were to leave the West Bank now, Hamas would take over control there in short order. Israel cannot allow this.

Does the German/European view of the Middle East surprise you?

Yes. Many in Europe have not noticed that a turning point is emerging in the Middle East.

What do you mean by that?

I’m talking about the so-called Abraham Accords from the year 2020 (Abraham-Abkommen aus dem Jahr 2020). These are far-reaching agreements to normalize relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. This is a turning point in the region! It is not known to many in Germany that the leaderships of the countries have concluded this accord because they were of the opinion, and still are, that their people are immediately benefiting from it. It is one of the priorities of the new Israeli government to broaden and deepen the circle of members of the Abraham Accords. I hope I can support the project from Berlin outward.

Berlin as a starting point of the peace initiative for the Middle East?

We’re waiting.

Qatar has gained a reputation in the region.

Keyword Middle East: The Soccer World Cup in Qatar has just come to an end. Not only in Germany was the host criticized for its policy toward women and minorities. Was the World Cup nonetheless rewarding for the emirate?

The criticism of Qatar is appropriate. Yet also, if one in Europe sees it differently: in the Middle East, the World Cup is considered a success, even though Qatar was awarded it under strange circumstances. That it even took place there, that, to a great extent, organizationally it came off without problems over the flag, makes the Arab world proud. Qatar has gained a reputation in the region (Katar hat in der Region an Renommee gewonnen.­)

Peace is hardly coming to the Middle East. Türkiye is threatening with an invasion in the Kurdish regions in northern Syria, the regime of Bashar al-Assad above all controls the southern area of the country. Which interests is Israel tracking?

We have never said who should govern in Syria. Our priority interest is that Iran is constructing no installations there. That no weapons are being stationed there, with which Israel should be attacked.

This applies not least to Hezbollah, Iran’s highly armed ally in the region, who, weekly, is supplied with weapons and missiles from Iran. Therefore, Israel will continue to prevent danger coming to the country from Syria (dass von Syrien eine Gefahr für das Land ausgeht.)

Russia is building up its military cooperation with Teheran. This includes Iranian drones being deployed in the war in Ukraine. How dangerous is this alliance?

Very dangerous! Not only for Israel but for the whole world. This alliance causes everyone much concern. Our common assignment is now to prevent Iran from broadening its negative influence and also destabilizing regions far from the Middle East. Many Israelis have sympathy for Ukraine (Viele Israelis haben Sympathien für die Ukraine) because they know exactly how it is to defend the country against autocratic, dictatorial regimes.

I can only say: Whenever we have spoken with the Russians about Iran, they listened to us attentively. If Moscow talks with Europe about the Iran problem, it is obviously different, because Europe partially has other interests in Iran. Today also Germany and Europe are aware of how dangerous the regime is for their continent.

In Iran, the people are directly revolting against the mullahs. Will those in power be toppled?

Unfortunately, one cannot say this at the moment. But certain is: The Iranian people are not to be equated with the rulers. Young people in the Islamic Republic want to be rid of the mullahs (Die Jüngeren in der Islamischen Republik wollen die Mullahs loswerden). The West should support this movement to rise up. It is good and impressive that Germany has taken on a leadership role to push through the sanctions against the mullahs and the Revolutionary Guards.