Germany's ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, aged 66, is retiring and bidding Israel farewell after serving four years as Germany's top diplomat there.
Tuesday will be his last working day, a spokesman confirmed.
"A big part of my heart will remain here," Seibert said in a video message on the platform X in fluent Hebrew. During a walk on the central Rothschild Boulevard in the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv, he listed 25 reasons why he would miss Israel.
These include Israeli songs, specialities and places, as well as the hoopoe, Israel's national bird. He also mentioned the Israeli-Palestinian forum of people who have lost relatives in the Middle East conflict.
Seibert also highlighted the Israel National Trail, which runs from the Lebanese border in the north to Eilat in the south. He himself had hiked many sections of the trail. He also paid tribute to Israeli volunteers who protect Palestinians in the occupied West Bank from settler violence.
Controversies during term, background on Seibert, successor
Seibert served during a particularly dramatic period in Israel and was not without controversy. After the ambassador addressed settler violence in a post on X in March, Israel's Foreign Ministry accused him of a lack of empathy for Israel. Germany's Foreign Office then demonstratively backed Seibert.
Back in 2023, Israel officially protested against Seibert attending a hearing at the Supreme Court as an observer on the controversial judicial reform. According to media reports, this was seen in Israel as interference in internal affairs.
