++ Information appointment in the evening, October 2nd, 2024: German politics reacts to the Middle East ++

What happens every day in the Middle East? The increase in bomb attacks, terrorist attacks and ever new counterattacks makes the global community seem like horrified and often powerless spectators. In Germany, politicians usually react more or less the same: they grant Israel the right to self-defense and call on Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis and now Iran to end the violence. The Foreign Ministry in Berlin also summoned the Iranian ambassador today. And now Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also condemned the Iranian attacks.

Tougher penalties for ATM bombers

The blowing up of ATMs is now so common in Rhineland-Palatinate that many are calling for harsher punishments for the perpetrators. Last year, 50 ATMs were issued there. The previous year there were even 56. The federal government now wants to punish this more harshly. The Federal Cabinet has introduced a draft law for this purpose. Our capital correspondent knows how high the penalty is currently and how much higher it should be