Jews in Germany are afraid, says Israel‘s Ambassador Ron Prosor in an interview with our editorial team. On trains and buses, they no longer feel safe. Many are considering taking concrete steps to bring themselves to safety, says the diplomat. In the Middle East, however, the conflict continues to smolder; despite the ceasefire, real peace remains far away. Prosor considers a two-state solution feasible only under clear conditions and says: „There must never again be a terrorist state on Israel‘s border.“

Mr. Ambassador, has the war damaged or even destroyed the relationship of trust between Germany and Israel?

Ron Prosor: The relations were strained, but never fundamentally called into question. After October 7th, it was too quickly forgotten that it was Hamas that invaded Israel and wants to annihilate it. Israel‘s right to exist should be just as self-evident as that of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Do Germans lack the right perspective on this conflict?

Prosor: Let‘s look at the debate about the partial arms embargo. Did it bring the hostages home earlier? Did it contribute to a ceasefire? The answer is no. The European view of the Middle East is often stereotypical. It ignores what radical Islamist forces we are dealing with. As State Secretary in the Foreign Ministry under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, I implemented Israel‘s unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005. We also dissolved four settlements in the West Bank, which hardly anyone remembers today. It could have been the beginning of the two-state solution.

Would you have thought it possible that Hamas would carry out an attack like the one on October 7th?

Prosor: The critics of this unilateral withdrawal warned me and said: „Ron, it‘s dangerous and risky. They write and say they want to kill us all.“ I brushed aside these warnings. If you had asked me on October 6th, one day before the massacre, whether such an attack could take place, I would never have believed it. We trivialized Hamas‘s open hatred and ideology. We paid a very high price for that. That won‘t happen to us again.

What does that mean for the current peace process?

Prosor: Peace needs partners. Have you ever asked the Palestinians what they really want? The polls show that the majority still firmly stands behind Hamas. It‘s no use simply repeating „two-state solution“ like a parrot. Those who really want to achieve the two-state solution must first ensure democratic structures. There must never again be a terrorist state on Israel‘s border.

Would an independent Palestinian state be equivalent to a terrorist state?

Prosor: Yes, if there are no real reforms. Just one example: Palestinian school textbooks still glorify violence against Jews. Terrorists like Dalal Al-Mughrabi, who murdered 38 people, are seen as role models. Tax money from Europe must never again support this - directly or indirectly. Aid must reach the population directly, combined with a clear rejection of violence and terror.

Does that mean the two-state solution is dead?

Prosor: No. But I need someone on the other side who really wants peace with me. A real coexistence, a Jewish-democratic state on one side and a Palestinian-democratic state on the other. That takes time: Hamas‘s ideology will remain in people‘s minds for years to come. But you have to eliminate Hamas‘s military infrastructure so that you can start with that. It‘s like with ISIS: the ideology is still there, but the followers can no longer put it into action.

What role do you see for Germany?

Prosor: Germany is Israel‘s most important partner in Europe. At the same time, Israel contributes to Germany‘s security, for example with the „Arrow 3“ missile defense system, drone defense, and counter-terrorism. Germany‘s European neighbors also benefit from this, though they appear more like will-o‘-the-wisps in the Middle East. Europe‘s contribution to the ceasefire was small. Quite in contrast to the pragmatic Arab states, which have recognized that Hamas, as an arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, threatens stability in the region. Our neighbors understand better who we‘re dealing with.

Is the federal government doing enough against money laundering, which is also used to finance terrorism?

Prosor: Terrorist financing is our big problem child. Much more can be improved in this area. But it‘s not just about unofficial channels of organized crime. One example is the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA: 12 of its employees demonstrably participated in the October 7th massacre. 2,135 UNRWA employees were listed by name on Hamas‘s payroll. The German Development Ministry wants to continue supporting UNRWA financially and is pushing for reforms. We must now insist that German tax money goes to the population in a controlled manner - and not directly to Hamas.

Do you believe Trump‘s peace pact can hold?

Prosor: I‘m optimistic. Two years after October 7th, our neighborhood has changed drastically: Hezbollah is not part of the government in Lebanon for the first time. Assad is no longer in Syria. Hamas and the mullahs are weakened, and Iran‘s nuclear weapons program has been set back by at least a few years.

What dangers do you see when you look at your northern neighbors in Lebanon?

Prosor: Iran is rearming Hezbollah and at the same time receiving massive support from China. In recent weeks, Beijing has delivered not only air defense systems but also components for the offensive missile program. That‘s new. The Chinese want to use the Russians‘ waning influence to bind the mullahs more closely to themselves.

More articles from Berliner Morgenpost in English:

Donald Trump achieved the ceasefire. Is he also the right man for long-term peace?

Prosor: He‘s unconventional and unpredictable to many. In the Middle East, he‘s achieved a lot precisely with that. That includes the Abraham Accords, which offer a blueprint for a peaceful Middle East. That must be acknowledged. For the first time, we have not just a cold peace, but also real interpersonal contacts with our neighboring countries. Arabs visit us and discover that not only Tel Aviv, but also some of the residents are quite nice – even if such a trip doesn’t make them Zionists. With Egypt, it‘s different. There has officially been peace between our countries since 1980, but the populations of both countries hardly feel it in everyday life.

What gives you hope?

Prosor: Together with the United States, we are working to develop a sustainable perspective for the entire region. With the Saudis, the Emiratis, the Egyptians, and Jordanians - and hopefully also with Pakistan and Indonesia. For the first time, they are making their own contribution to guiding this region toward peace and stability.

Since the war in Gaza, antisemitism has been growing. From which corner is it more dangerous - from the right or from Muslim-influenced milieus?

Prosor: You coincidentally forgot left-wing antisemitism. In Germany, people in the political and judicial sphere know very well how to combat antisemitism from the right. Islamist antisemitism is highly dangerous because it infiltrates the democratic order like a Trojan horse. However, we‘re learning to deal with it. Left-wing antisemitism, from my point of view, is even more dangerous because it conceals its intentions. It always moves on the border between freedom of speech and freedom to incite - and has now clearly crossed that border. That‘s why left-wing antisemitism is the most dangerous for me.

Even worse than Jew-hatred from Islamists?

Prosor: Absolutely. Here in Europe, you see it at universities and theaters. People present themselves as educated, moral, and politically correct. But the red line of what is covered by freedom of speech has long been crossed. Day after day, Israel is demonized and delegitimized, and the consequences are felt by all Jews. It‘s still a scandal that an Israeli conductor is uninvited from a festival in Belgium, but the spaces of what can be said are shifting.

How do you assess the statement by Federal Education Minister Karin Prien, the first federal minister with Jewish roots, who said she would emigrate if the AfD came to power?

Prosor: Jews in Germany are afraid. Many are now buying apartments in Israel, as French Jews did before them. I get calls asking: Is it safe to come to Berlin?

What do you answer?

Prosor: Yes, it‘s safe - but better not walk along Neukölln‘s Sonnenallee with a Star of David.

What specifically needs to happen in Germany for things to get better?

Prosor: Jewish women and men in 2025 are afraid to go to university or get on the subway as recognizably Jewish. That Jewish schools, institutions, and synagogues must be monitored by police around the clock is not normal. And it must never be seen as normal. Words are not enough to combat this antisemitism. Actions must follow. For Jews and Israelis to be safe and visible in Germany, a strong rule of law is needed. That includes clear legislation that unequivocally condemns antisemitism and enables effective action by police and justice.

This article was originally written and published on the 9th of November in German. It was translated in English with the use of Artificial Intelligence.