Germany's Scholz defends ambassador to Israel, ahead of meeting with Netanyahu

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz defends his government’s envoy against Israeli criticism for attending last week’s High Court of Justice hearing on the reasonableness law.

“The German ambassador is a very committed man with very clear principles. And I believe that everyone knows that — including in Israel,” Scholz tells journalists in New York.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock adds that it is the “everyday business of diplomats” to monitor developments in foreign countries. “It’s also normal to go to public hearings or public court cases — it’s part of his job,” she says.

Scholz and Netanyahu are scheduled to meet tomorrow on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.