An Open Conversation with His Excellency Mr. Steffen Seibert, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Israel
On June 16, hbs Tel Aviv, together with Radical Idea House, hosted H.E. Steffen Seibert, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Israel, for one of his final public appearances before returning to Germany.
During the event, Ambassador Seibert joined our Head of Office, Dr. Ofer Waldman, for a conversation that was at once political and deeply personal, reflecting on his four years in Israel as one of the country's most unusual and high-profile German ambassadors.
Seibert spoke about visiting Israeli families during shiv'a in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks; about the war and the atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank; and about his steadfast support for Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel working together in civil society—particularly the Parents Circle–Families Forum, which brings together bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families.
Seibert and Waldman also discussed the rise of right-wing extremism in both Germany and Israel, the profound crisis Israel is facing, and the lasting personal connections Seibert forged during his time in the country—for example, while hiking the Israel National Trail from north to south.
Seibert concluded on a personal note, saying that Israel had changed him. Exactly how, he said, is something he has yet to discover.
We look forward to hearing his answer.