Israel’s former ambassador to Germany, Shimon Stein, has called for a revival of the idea of a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict.

“It is a long way off at the moment. But it must be kept in mind.’’

Stein said this to German news platform Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) in remarks published early on Monday and made available to dpa in advance.

The current Israeli Government has taken it off its agenda.

“That was a mistake.

“A military operation without a political perspective would be a missed opportunity.’’

He said he hoped that Israel’s planned ground offensive would succeed with the neutralisation of the military threat from Hamas.

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“And then we ask the question: What happens the day after? And hopefully, the US, Germany, and the European Union will help us with that.

“It will be a very difficult task,’’ he said.

The question is whether the West will be able to do it when at the same time Russia is at war with Ukraine.

And whether there would be enough resources to stabilise Gaza and the Palestinian territories.

Stein assumed a relatively long war.

“A war in the middle of a city is difficult; I experienced it myself as a soldier in 1967 when I was in Gaza.

“It was bloody as hell,’’ he said.

Stein added that German solidarity would not crumble due to the Israeli ground offensive.

Referring to pro-Palestinian demonstrations and anti-semitic attacks in Germany, Stein said: “The integration of many Palestinians in Germany has failed.

They have often taken the war with them from their homeland and are now projecting it on German soil.’’