Former German Ambassador to Israel Rudolf Dreßler Dies at 84

The longtime SPD politician and social advocate was known for his commitment to workers' rights and his influential role in German-Israeli relations.

Rudolf Dreßler, former German ambassador to Israel and SPD politician, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 84, as confirmed by the SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Dreßler served as Germany's ambassador to Israel from 2000 to 2005, during which he played a significant role in strengthening bilateral relations.
He spent two decades in the Bundestag, where he established himself as a vocal advocate for social policies and workers' rights, including leading the SPD's Working Group on Israel.
Dreßler is credited with coining the phrase that the security of Israel is part of Germany's state policy, later echoed by Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2008.
In later years, he became a critic of his party's direction, expressing dissatisfaction with its approach to social policy and briefly considering joining the Left Party, though he ultimately remained with the SPD.