Surprise visit: Israel's consul general speaks about the conflict

Surprise visit: Israel's consul general speaks about the conflict

On May 22, 2025, Talya Lador-Fresher, the Consul General of Israel in Munich, visited the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (KU). Their visit took place under high security precautions and was not publicly announced. During her conversations with students and university leadership, Lador-Fresher discussed the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which she described as the “most terrible day” in Jewish consciousness since the Shoah. Her comment reflects the deep emotional scars this attack has left on Israeli society.

On that day, Hamas militants attacked several southern Israeli communities, killing at least 1,300 Israelis. The attackers stormed villages, killing residents and setting houses on fire while people were trapped inside. Over 260 people were killed at a music festival and survivors reported systematic massacres; some victims were Holocaust survivors. These investigations and memories evoke parallels to the Holocaust for many Israelis. Political commentators are drawing comparisons between these current events and the atrocities of yesteryear, while critics warn of the dangers of using this past to legitimize military action, which could lead to serious consequences.

The conversation about the humanitarian situation

As part of the conversation with the students, Lador-Fresher also discussed the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. She admitted that the situation was not good and mentioned that aid might be sold by Hamas. This highlights the complexity of the conflict and the challenges facing the international community.

In addition to these serious topics, Lador-Fresher spoke about political developments in Syria, the war in Ukraine and ongoing anti-Semitism. Diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel were also on the exchange agenda.

Cooperation and memory

The Catholic University has had a cooperation with Ben-Gurion University in Israel since 2018, which regularly promotes the exchange of students and lecturers. Prof. Dr. Vanessa Conze reported on a teaching research project to deal with the persecution of the Jews, which deals with the history of the Geiershoefer family. In cooperation with Bayerischer Rundfunk, a podcast episode about this family was published. An exhibition on this topic will also be on display in the central library from June.

Lador-Fresher expressed great interest in a project to examine the Jewish past in the university library, which includes Hebrew manuscripts and books. This collection comes from the community of Sulzbürg and may contain Nazi-looted property. Dr. Heike Riedel reported on the return of three books to descendants of former owners, including a prayer book by Wolf Grünebaum. Such returns are part of an important process of engaging with history and creating awareness of the past.

The memory of the Holocaust plays a central role in Israeli and German society. While Israel has recognized Holocaust Remembrance Day as the most important official commemoration since the 1990s, an increasingly critical examination of its own history has also developed in Germany. It is a challenge for both countries to learn lessons from the past while addressing current conflicts, such as ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

The social identity crisis facing Israel's Jewish population highlights the complexity of the current conflicts. At a time when the memory of the Holocaust is understood as an important part of Jewish identity, it remains crucial to recognize and reflect on the connections between past and present.

For many, the Holocaust is not just a closed part of history, but a relevant topic that still influences social and political discourse today. Lador-Fresher emphasized the importance of young people understanding the context of current conflicts in order to better deal with different perspectives and societal challenges.

In this sense, the Consul General appeals to the coming generation to preserve the lessons of the past and promote an atmosphere of dialogue and diplomacy.

KU reports that…
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