Relationships with Israel
Germany and Israel – slight disorders for the anniversary
The relationship between Germany and Israel was more carefree. Under the impression of the war in Gaza, both states celebrate the admission of diplomatic relationships 60 years ago.
The Federal Foreign Office speaks of a “friendship that is a gift”: exactly 60 years ago, Germany and Israel recorded diplomatic relationships. The anniversary falls into a not easy time because of the war in the Gaza Strip. To celebrate the annual day, Israel President Izchak Herzog is expected in Berlin today. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will visit Israel on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Such a double visit, as the Federal President’s Office calls it, is historically unique. Both presidents are accompanied by their women Michal Herzog and Elke Büdenbender.
Start of diplomatic relationships 20 years after the end of the war
Chancellor Ludwig Erhard and Israeli Prime Minister Levi Eschkol had agreed on May 12, 1965. This was preceded by a gradual approach of both states, the relationship of which was extremely burdened by the Holocaust, the murder of around six million Jews by Hitler-Germany.
Since then, Germany and Israel have linked a close network of political, economic, military, scientific and cultural relationships. They are supplemented by a lively youth exchange and more than 100 city twinning. The youngest has just been sealed between the German capital Berlin and the Israeli metropolis Tel Aviv. Israel today calls its second most important strategic partner in the world straight to the United States.
Security of Israel for Germany State Räson
The normalization of relationships is also reflected in mutual visits. In February 2000, Federal President Johannes Rau was the first German head of state to speak to the Israeli parliament. In German, the language of the perpetrators of the Holocaust, he asked for forgiveness for these deeds. And he emphasized: “The joint responsibility for Israel has been a Basic Law of German Foreign Policy since our state was founded.”
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) gave a speech in the Knesset in March 2008 – as the first foreign head of government. She also emphasized Germany’s responsibility for Israel and, based on Rau, formulated a commitment to this day: “This historical responsibility is part of my country’s state.”
Another twelve years later, in January 2020, Steinmeier was the first Federal President in the Yad Vashem Memorial at the International Holocaust Forum. He is “loaded with great historical guilt,” he said, referring to the “industrial mass murder of six million Jews”.
President have a common program for three days
Steinmeier is welcomed with military honor in the morning in Bellevue Castle. A press conference will join a conversation between the two presidents. Steinmeier and Duke will later take part in a meeting of German and Israeli adolescents and commemorate the Jews deported from here to the Jews deported from here.
Steinmeier will then speak to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel and Knesset with MPs. The program also includes a visit to a kibbutz. A visit to the new National Library and the Award Steinmeier with the Medal of Honor by the Israeli President is also planned.
Israel’s approach in Gaza is disturbed by German politics
The anniversary is celebrated in difficult times. Israel’s warfare in the Gaza Strip with many dead civilians and the catastrophic humanitarian situation there were repeatedly criticized by the old federal government and are also viewed critically by the new.
The anniversary of bilateral relationships is the reason for the joy of the miracle of German-Israeli reconciliation, according to the Federal President’s Office. At the same time, the mood of celebrations did not really want to pay. “We look at Israel with the greatest concern. We look at the suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip with the greatest concern.”
The Federal Presidential Office announced that Steinmeier would call the Israeli partners in his conversations to protect the civilian population in the Gaza Strip and to respect humanitarian international law. “He also urgently wants to encourage his interlocutors to seek entry into political negotiations.”
Herzog just said in a ZDF interview: “We always look at the pain of people in conflicts and we follow humanitarian international law.” But one also has to understand who isolated Israel. “This is an infrastructure of terror. And it is controlled by Hamas in the houses, in the living rooms, in the bedrooms.”
Israel is increasing anti -Semitism
Israel, in turn, is very concerned about growing anti -Semitism in Germany. After the attack of Islamist Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, this has increased drastically, as was found in a report by the Federal Government in December last year. “The terrorist attack has also significantly increased the threat of Jews in Germany.”
It seems more urgent than ever today that Steinmeier made in his speech in Yad Vashem 2020: “We are fighting anti -Semitism! We defy the poison of nationalism! We protect Jewish life! We are at the side of Israel!”
dpa
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
