German chancellor, Egyptian president discuss Middle East tensions over phone

BERLIN

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed the latest developments in the Middle East in a phone call Wednesday with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, said a government spokesman.

“It is now more important than ever to break the destructive spiral of retaliatory violence in the region,” Steffen Hebestreit said in a statement, adding that both leaders agreed on the need to de-escalate tensions in the region.

During the phone call, Chancellor Scholz and President al-Sisi also discussed the ongoing diplomatic efforts for a cease-fire in Gaza, and Scholz thanked him for Egypt’s “important mediating role” in negotiations, Hebestreit said.

He noted that the leaders further discussed the latest developments in the West Bank, growing violence by radical Israeli settlers, and controversial plans for expanding illegal settlements.

“The Chancellor and the President reaffirmed their rejection of illegal settlement plans, their condemnation of violence by extremist settlers, and any attempt to expel people from the Palestinian territories,” he added.