German president decides not to meet with Breaking the Silence
The decision to cancel the meeting with the left-wing organization comes a week after German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel met with members of the group causing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel a planned meeting.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has decided not to meet with representatives of Breaking the Silence, according to reports.
The decision comes a week after German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel met with members of the organization causing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel their meeting.
While Steinmeier's office said the president will not meet the left-wing group, he will highlight the organization's activities and its importance to democracy in a speech at Hebrew University.
Steinmeier's spokesman said that he intends to meet with representatives of other left-wing civil society organizations.
In response to the reports of Steinmeier's cancellation, Breaking the Silence issued a statement saying, "While Netanyahu is busy destroying Israel's strategic diplomatic relations, we will continue to collect and publish testimonies of soldiers who served in the territories that expose the injustices of the occupation and its immorality. This is another opportunity to remind Bibi that the only way to stop soldiers from breaking the silence is to end the occupation."
Steinmeier, who served in the past as Germany's foreign minister, is set to arrive in Israel on Sunday for his first visit to the country as president.
Steinmeier is set to meet Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin during his visit. He is also set to visit Givat Haviva and meet with Jewish and Arab children.
