Visiting German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met her new Israeli counterpart Israel Katz in Jerusalem on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Katz thanked her for Germany’s support for Israel and the commitment to the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, his office said on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n
This also applied to regional efforts to remove the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah from the border with Israel, the statement said.<\/p>\n
Baerbock arrived in Israel on her fourth trip to Israel and the region since the Hamas attacks on Israel in October.<\/p>\n
Relatives of hostages still held in the Gaza Strip also attended her meeting with the Israeli foreign minister.<\/p>\n
Katz said he also asked Baerbock for support with regard to what her called South Africa’s “absurd” lawsuit against Israel before the International Court of Justice in The Hague.<\/p>\n
The top Israeli diplomat also praised a ban that Germany imposed on the activities of the Islamist Hamas.<\/p>\n