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.
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, as the leaders of my country have said so very clearly," 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."
