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Hamburg's parliamentary speaker Veit leaves Israel amidst the chaos of war
Hamburg Parliament Speaker Carola Veit describes the dangers of current conflicts in the Middle East during her return trip from Israel.
Hamburg's parliamentary speaker Veit leaves Israel amidst the chaos of war
The tensions in the Middle East have reached a new level of escalation, which also led to an unexpected adventure for Hamburg's parliamentary speaker, Carola Veit (SPD). After being stuck in Tel Aviv due to military attacks, she found a ride to Jordan after three nights. From there she plans to travel back to Hamburg, probably via Saudi Arabia. Israeli airspace has been closed since hostilities began, further complicating the situation. Her return flight, originally planned for Friday, was made impossible by the tense situation, which she made clear in an interview with NDR: “People here are surprised by the current situation.” NDR
The background to these military conflicts is complex. Israel launched attacks on Iran on Friday night, which are seen as a response to what it sees as an existential threat. Israeli politicians see Iran as the ultimate threat and attribute that nation to a role in attacks by proxy organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas. These groups have been militarily equipped with Iranian support in recent years and are actively acting against Israel. Tagesschau
A dangerous conflict
The situation in Israel is alarming. A major attack on Iranian nuclear facilities was launched, which Israeli President Izchak Herzog justified with the need to secure the Jewish people. Intelligence information shows that Iran is operating a secret nuclear program, further inflaming tensions. “Iran is considered a major threat to Israel, especially if it is able to develop nuclear weapons,” explains a military specialist. This is supported by reports of Iranian uranium already at 60 percent purity. ZDF
While Carola Veit was in Israel to exchange ideas with various political and cultural institutions, she also met the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. She describes the situation as “highly dangerous” and expresses concerns about the impact on the region’s security architecture. Shops and schools in Israel are severely restricted and public life has almost come to a standstill.
The international dimension
International reactions to Israel's military actions are mixed. US President Donald Trump aims to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Iran, while the Israeli government prefers military solutions. Currently, the discussion about a conference on the establishment of a Palestinian state has been postponed, at least until further notice. The tensions could lead to regional repercussions that could also affect Iraq and other neighboring countries.
“We are at a critical point,” says Veit. “This makes it clear how fragile the security situation is in this region – and how quickly it can get out of control.” Fears that Yemen's Houthi militia and Lebanon's Hezbollah could intervene in the conflict are adding to worries about a broader escalation in the Middle East.
Veit therefore sees it as his responsibility to point out the pressure situation and calls for prudence in the international community in order to prevent anything worse from happening.