Israel has ‘every right to defend itself,’ says German FM

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier says Israel has “every right to protect its population against attacks,” according to Deutsche Textservice Nachrichtenagentur, or DTS, a German news agency.

“I am deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Jerusalem, which expanded in the past few days to several cities in the West Bank, Israel and Gaza and has led to numerous deaths and injuries on the Israeli and Palestinian side,” Steinmeier is quoted by DTS as saying today.

“It is terrible that people have to live in constant fear of becoming victims of indiscriminate violence on the streets. All violent criminals must be prosecuted.

“Israel has every right to protect its population against attacks. Both sides now need to avoid anything that further fuels tensions […] We need to re-enter into a political process, which provides a perspective on a sustainable solution to the conflict,” DTS quotes Steinmeier as saying.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier addresses the media after talks in Berlin on October 15, 2015. (Tobias Schwarz/AFP)