Berlin has defended the German Ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, against criticism that he went to observe court proceedings on Israel’s highly controversial judicial reforms.
“Following relevant political, including domestic, developments in the host country is a central task of diplomats,’’ a Foreign Office spokeswoman said on Monday.
Furthermore, the German Foreign Office described attending such an event as common practice.
According to media reports, an Israeli minister complained about Seibert’s attendance as a spectator at a historic meeting of the Supreme Court in Jerusalem last Tuesday.
The court proceedings related to judicial reforms introduced by the right-wing coalition government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
For the first time in the country’s history, all 15 judges came together to deliberate on eight petitions against an amendment to the Basic Law that had been passed by parliament.
According to an Israeli official, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is said to have sent an official complaint against Seibert to Berlin.
The complaint accuses the German ambassador of interfering in internal affairs, Israeli media reported.
However, a German Foreign Office spokesman said on Monday in Berlin.
“The Foreign Office has not received any complaint from Israel.’’
The complaint was said to have been transmitted to the German Foreign Office via the Israeli ambassador in Berlin, Ron Prosor, according to the media reports, citing the Israeli official.
