A historic visit to Israel of several members of the German government, lead by Chancellor Angela Merkel, was recently concluded. The visit included a joint cabinet meeting that was held in the Israeli Knesset, in which mutual praises were exchanged by the two heads of states, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Chancellor Merkel. Due to the sensitive history of the relationships between the Germans and the Jewish people, the visit has caused quite a lot of fuss both in Israel and in Germany.
Merkel, the first German head of government to address the Israeli Knesset, used the opportunity to pledge her unwavering support for the Jewish state on the eve of its 60’s birthday, having been founded shortly after the Nazi Holocaust in World War II. She also criticized Hamas’ rocket attacks on Israel and Iran’s threats against Israel’s existence.
In Germany, newspaper editorials actually praised Merkel’s conduct in Israel, but they also warned that Germany must not appear too pro-Israeli, as this might interfere with its ability to play a mediating role in bringing peace to the Middle East.
On the Israeli side, several angry voices were heard regarding Merkel’s speech in the Israeli Knesset, which was to be held in the German language. Several members of the Knesset voiced their opinion about the lack of sensitivity shown by the decision to enable that speech, especially toward the living Holocaust survivors, for whom the German language represents their worst oppressor. Those Knesset members chose to skip the event in order to stress their disapproval.
Perhaps in regards to that controversy, Merkel chose to open her Knesset address in a short speech in Hebrew, saying that the Nazi Holocaust causes her and her fellow Germans to be filled with shame. Her speech was made at the end of a 3 days trip to Israel which included a visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem.
The historic visit was sealed with a joint statement by the two cabinets indicating the strengthening of the political, cultural, economic and social relations between Germany and Israel, which included a signed agreement instituting future annual meetings at prime ministerial, ministerial and cabinet levels.
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