German foreign minister commemorates Holocaust victims

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's laid a wreath at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem on Thursday as part of her first stop on a multi-day tour of the Middle East.

Speaking at the memorial site for the 6 million Jews murdered by Nazi Germany during World War II, Baerbock said it was the "unconditional obligation" of the younger generation to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive, especially as there "are fewer and fewer contemporary witnesses among us."

"It is our responsibility to raise our voices against antisemitism, against hatred and agitation, against exclusion and violence, so that such a crime against humanity is never repeated," she said.

"Yad Vashem reminds us to hear the voice of those who experienced the horror themselves and to pass on their words," she then wrote in the site's guestbook. "As the mother of two daughters, my breath tightens in my throat thinking about the millions of children who were murdered."

Before leaving for Israel, Baerbock said Germany would stand by its "special historical responsibility" for Israel's security and "continue to make contributions in solidarity for this." 

What else is on Baerbock's agenda? 

The multiday tour is Baerbock's first visit to the Middle East since becoming German foreign minister in December.

After visiting Yad Vashem, Baerbock met with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in Tel Aviv, promising that Germany's new government would continue to stand in solidarity with Israel. 

She also met with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and President Isaac Herzog.

"The new German government is not letting up in its commitment to peace and security for the people in the region. We are convinced that that inseparably includes the protection of human rights," Baerbock said in a statement Wednesday. 

Baerbock advocates 'two-state solution'

According to the German Foreign Ministry, the Middle East peace process will be a priority in Baerbock's talks with regional leaders. 

"Even if the Middle East conflict seems like a crisis that has always existed for many, we cannot accept it as the status quo," she said Wednesday before leaving. 

On Thursday, after meeting with Lapid, Baerbock said a two-state solution in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians would be "the best option" for both sides. 

However, the foreign minister criticized Israeli settlements being built on Palestinian-claimed territory in the West Bank as a threat to the peace process. 

"We have a clear position on settlement construction. We consider it harmful and incompatible with international law," Baerbock said. 

Baerbock tells Palestinians 'advance democracy'

Later on Thursday, Baerbock traveled to Ramallah in the West Bank, where she met her Palestinian counterpart Riad Malki, as well as Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Once again, she stressed the need for Israelis and Palestinians to resume peace talks. 

Baerbock told Malki that Germany looked forward to supporting both sides in an effort to bring peace to the region.

Though the German foreign minister struck a more positive tone, Malki bemoaned the lack of an Israeli negotiating partner, as Prime Minister Naftali Bennet has been very clear in his rejection of a two-state solution. 

Malki said, "We hope Germany can convince Israel to sit down at the table with us."

In Ramallah, too, Baerbock sharply rebuked Israel's settlement policy but also took the opportunity to implore Palestinians to strengthen democratic processes and institutions by "advancing democracy that respects human rights and women's rights." 

On Thursday evening, Baerbock will travel from Israel to Jordan before then heading to Egypt for talks on Saturday.

js,wmr/rt (dpa, Reuters, KNA)