Alongside visiting German FM, Sa’ar says Israel not seeking ‘endless war’ in Iran |
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Tuesday that Israel was not seeking an “endless war” in Iran amid the ongoing joint US-Israeli bombing campaign against the Islamic Republic, while hosting German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Jerusalem.
While declining to give a timeline for the operation, Sa’ar said Jerusalem does not aim to continue the conflict indefinitely and would coordinate with Washington on when to end the fighting.
Wadephul lightning trip marked the first diplomatic visit by a senior foreign official to Israel since the start of the campaign, now in its 11th day. As European capitals continue to debate how to respond to the escalating conflict, Wadephul stressed that while Germany and European partners hope for a diplomatic solution to the conflict, Tehran does not appear ready to commit to one.
Throughout Sunday afternoon, Sa’ar and Wadephul toured the site of a deadly Iranian missile attack in Beit Shemesh and met with relatives of the victims, before meeting privately at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem and holding a joint press conference there.
The German minister’s visit came directly in response to the war and was not scheduled before the conflict broke out, according to the German embassy and Sa’ar’s office.
Wadephul was scheduled to return to Germany on Tuesday evening.
While Sa’ar declined to give the operation a clear timeline at the press conference, he said in response to a question that “in due time, we will consult with our American friends when we think it is the right time to [end the conflict.] We are not looking for an endless war.”
Sa’ar said Israel’s goals are “to remove for the long term existential threats from Iran to Israel,” adding that “it is hard to see [this happening] with the current........