An offensive by the Israeli army on Rafah would be a humanitarian catastrophe," Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote in a post on X on Saturday.
Amid rising antisemitism, Israel needs strong diplomacy, reminiscent of Abba Eban's era, to defend its image and legitimacy on the world stage.
This year marks 85 years since the Second World War began, of which the Holocaust was such a tragic and notorious part.
Katz will also present his European counterparts with strategic plans and projects to promote the region, including the "Tracks for Regional Peace" initiative, connecting the Middle East and Europe.
It is time for Israel to step up and fill this crucial gap in international media, not only for its own benefit but for the sake of a more informed and equitable global conversation about the region.
"We expect international bodies to advance the issue of returning the hostages without discrimination and with humanity and ethics,” Katz stated.
The signing of the agreement by foreign minister Eli Cohen marks the end of the two-year-long dispute.
This is Katz’s second stint at the helm of the Foreign Ministry; he served briefly from February 2019 to May 2020.
Katz, a veteran Likud minister who first joined the Knesset in 1998, served briefly as Foreign Minister from February 2019 to May 2020.
The current climate bill was deemed “shameful” by environmental activists, many of whom said it could worsen the climate change situation in Israel.