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Hamburg's parliamentary speaker Veit is imprisoned because of the Middle East conflict
Carola Veit, Speaker of the Hamburg Parliament, is stuck in Israel due to the current escalation. Airspace closed.
Hamburg's parliamentary speaker Veit is imprisoned because of the Middle East conflict
Amid the recent escalating conflicts in the Middle East, Carola Veit, the speaker of the Hamburg parliament, is currently detained in Tel Aviv. Their return flight to Hamburg was originally scheduled to take place on Friday morning, but the airspace over Israel has been closed since the nightly attacks on Iranian cities and nuclear facilities. In these turbulent times, it is unclear when and how Veit can leave Israel, reports daily news.
The situation in Israel is tense. Iran has launched several drones toward Israel in response to Israeli attacks, but they have so far been intercepted. The security situation is unpredictable and, as Veit points out, the people of Israel are used to sudden changes. They often accept their government's decisions, but the current escalation is perceived as "highly dangerous" and calls into question the usual security architecture. This is leading to a noticeable decline in public life, as many schools are closed and people in Tel Aviv would previously have celebrated for a large Pride parade, but now find streets swept empty, like the one MOPO communicates.
Contact the German embassy
Carola Veit is in constant contact with the German embassy in Tel Aviv and is waiting at the hotel with her head of protocol Marco Wiesner for further information about possible flights. Uncertainty remains high as airspace over Jordan and Iraq are also closed, further complicating the situation. Her visit to Israel, planned two years ago at the invitation of Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor, was not affected by the war following the Hamas terrorist attack in October 2023, as she confirmed.
“The people here are in shock about the current events,” reports Veit.A complex geopolitical situation is playing out in the background, with Israel viewing Iran as an underestimated threat to the Western world. This is underpinned by recent developments in the Knesset and the stability of Prime Minister Netanyahu's government, which could further fuel the dynamics of the conflict Mirror reported.
The situation remains tense while the world hopes for de-escalation. Carola Veit hopes to be able to return safely soon and will continue to monitor developments.