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A very special trip to Israel

 

Around 200 young Germans with the potential to assume responsibility in their country in the future travel to Israel for the first time.

 

On the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel it became clear that, alongside remembrance, the future is likewise one of the major challenges for maintaining the uniqueness of the relations of the two countries and peoples. Looking forward shows that it is important for young generations to continue this dialogue. Against this background the Israeli Foreign Ministry invited 180 talented young people from Germany to Israel. They will see Israel in all its facets over the course of five days, with the itinerary featuring meetings with writer David Grossmann and top politicians as well as a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and Tel Aviv’s start-up scene.

The participants are young future leaders from the areas of culture, business, research, society and media – all of them will be visiting Israel for the first time and getting to know the country in the context of a special programme of events. In addition to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin, they will also meet top representatives from the areas of business, innovation, security, culture and politics.

 

Addressing the participants, the Israeli Ambassador in Germany, Yakov Hadas-Handelsman, said: “We hope that the programmes in the fields of industry & innovation, culture and society will give you interesting and inspiring insights. Go with an open mind and see for yourself what is there. Enjoy your time and your encounters in an innovative country full of energy and limitless opportunities.”

German Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier likewise sends the participants his best wishes for a good trip:

“For many of you this will be your first trip to Israel – a country to which we will always be connected through our remembrance of the Holocaust. Our relations with Israel will always be special and never ‘normal’. And yet, in the recent decades something has developed that would have been virtually inconceivable 70 years ago.

 

Thanks to the efforts of many courageous people, Israelis and Germans have gradually been able to come together again and create a strong network of human relations.  (...)

Your visit to Israel will no doubt move you. You will return to Germany with numerous new impressions. Share them with others and help shape German-Israeli relations. These relations have never been as diverse and alive as they are today, and are also borne by the curiosity of many young people in the respective other country.”

Daniela Schadt, partner of Federal President Joachim Gauck, and the Israeli Ambassador in Germany, Yakov Hadas-Handelsman, will see off the participants at Berlin’s Schönefeld Airport at 9 a.m. on 29 November.

From Sunday onwards you can continually accompany the travellers as they tour Israel on their journey of discovery via a specially created blog as well as under the hashtag #iltrip15.

Partner

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

This is the archived content of official bilateral website that was founded by the German and Israeli government on the occasion of the Jubilee Year 2015. This website contains the articles of the bilateral website, but will be static and will not be maintained. It serves as documentation of the multi-faceted cooperation between Germany and Israel We hope you enjoy exploring 50 years of German-Israeli relations!

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