Friendship groups in the Knesset and Bundestag

 

The two parliamentary groups in Germany and Israel are a key pillar of German-Israeli relations.

 

When, on 23-26 June, a delegation from the German Bundestag travels to Israel and is formally received by the Knesset, one of the members will be the Chairman of the German-Israeli Parliamentary Group, Volker Beck.“I know no other institution, foundation or think tank that cuts across political views and brings together the entire spectrum of political parties in this way,” comments Beck. For the Green Party parliamentarian the English term “friendship group” is therefore the fitting term for the two parliamentary groups in the Israeli Knesset and the German Bundestag.

 

After all, this is a place for cross-party, personal encounter and friendship, as well as controversial political debate on amicable terms. “For this reason I would accord our groups in the Knesset and Bundestag a key significance for German-Israeli relations, even if we don’t communicate via the highly visible channels of foreign policy,” explains Beck in praise of the collaboration between parliamentarians from both institutions.

The German-Israeli Parliamentary Group was established as long ago as 1 April 1971, in Bonn, then capital of West Germany. Today the group has 58 members, making it the second largest in the German Bundestag, and deals extensively with parliamentary interaction with Israel. Key issues in the current legislative period were the Knesset elections in March 2015 and the Middle East conflict.

“Actual collaboration takes the shape of those few meetings that are possible between the groups,” comments Beck on the working method. “During the war in Gaza last year, communication between our groups was livelier.”  

Bilateral parliamentary groups are permitted to travel to their partner country once in the course of a parliamentary term to give personal contacts greater depth. Parliamentarians can also invite their counterparts to a return visit with the prior approval of the President of the Bundestag.

 

The last meeting with Israeli parliamentarians took place on 9 September 2014. “A meeting between the two parliamentary groups in the context of the 50th anniversary celebrations is not planned at present”, says the Bundestag Spokesperson. After all, the last parliamentary elections in Israel were held only a short while ago, namely in March.

 

Read the full speech of Norbert Lammert, president of the German Bundestag, in front of the Knesset in Hebrew, German and English.