Jointly shaping the future

 

The inauguration of diplomatic relations between Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany 50 years ago was not a matter of course. The ties now existing between the two countries extend to all fields of political life. These ties are close and friendly.

 

May 12, 1965 was a day of great importance in the history of the relationship between Germany and Israel. On it, the State of Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany  commenced diplomatic relations with each other. The countries' societies played an important role in paving the way for this historic move. The societies built bridges between the people in the two countries, with this especially applying to the sciences, culture and sport. Also playing an important role were such voluntary service programs as   “Action Reconciliation Service for Peace”.

 

The rapprochement between the two countries was marked by three bilateral milestones. The Luxembourg Agreement of 1952 constituted the Federal Republic of Germany's assumption of responsibility for the consequences of the Holocaust. The second milestone was the meeting in March 1960 between David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first Prime Minister, and Konrad Adenauer, Germany's first Chancellor. The final milestone was the Eichmann trial of 1961. The Luxembourg Agreement formed the foundation for the conducting of a more extensive dialogue. This culminated in the meeting between Ben-Gurion and Adenauer. The Eichmann trial changed the two countries' perception of each other, taking place as it did a very few years after the end of the Second World War and the Holocaust.

 

Growing trust

 

The post-1965 era has been marked by the rapid development of bilateral relationships and contacts. In 1969, in a first, a delegation comprised of members of the Knesset (Israel's parliament) was officially welcomed to Germany's Bundestag (parliament). In 1971, members of the Bundestag returned the compliment by visiting the Knesset. In 1975, Yitzak Rabin was the first Prime Minister of Israel to visit Germany. In 1985, President Richard von Weizsäcker of Germany became the country's first of head of state to visit Israel. In 1987, President  Chaim Herzog of Israel was the first of state in Israel to visit Germany. The growth of trust between the two countries has not been restricted to the political sphere. Societal ties have played a highly important role. These have taken the form of youth exchange programs and civic partnerships. Today, cities in Germany and Israel maintain more than 100 such partnerships. The number of partnership-based organizations has grown steadily during the years.  Agreements and cooperations have been agreed upon in all fields, with these including politics, business, the sciences, culture, societal affairs and the municipal level. The strength characterizing these ties is demonstrated by the inability of such dreadful and devastating events as the terror attack staged during the 1972 Olympics in Munich, in which eleven members of the Israeli team were killed, to rattle them.

 

Initial governmental consultations

 

In 2008, a new chapter in the history of the unique relationship between Germany and Israel was commenced. The 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel was the occasion for the calling into life by Angela Merkel, Germany's Chancellor, and by Ehud Olmert, Prime Minister of Israel at the time, of the German-Israeli governmental consultations. Israel is the first country not in Europe with which Germany stages on a regular basis such governmental consultations. The Chancellor entered the following words in the visitors' book maintained at Yad Vashem, Israel's place of Shoah commemoration: “The consciousness of the responsibility held by Germany for the Shoah  informs the resolve with which Germany's government – via the initial German-Israeli governmental consultations – will pursue with Israel the joint configuration of the future.”

 

The governmental consultations are held once a year. They are attended by the two countries' cabinets. Venues for such alternate between Israel and Germany. These represent the two countries' manifestation of their will to deepen and intensify the relationships of partnership existing between them in all fields.  The governmental governmental consultations held in Jerusalem in February 2014 yielded a wide range of agreements. A large number of economic and scientific projects were resolved upon, as were measures immediately and directly benefiting the citizens of the two countries. The latter included a “working holiday” program for persons under 30, and Germany's offer to instruct its representatives outside the country to provide consular services to Israelis experiencing emergencies in countries in Israel does not maintain diplomatic relations.

Israel and Germany are also employing trilateral ties – with this especially applying to Africa – to attain the “Millennium Goals of Development”. The second round of governmental consultations, held in 2009, resolved to step up such three-way efforts in the area of development work. Priorities were set: water management, agriculture and health. To implement these objectives, Israel and Germany are jointly pursuing projects of development in Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Burundi.

 

Jointly held values

 

Fifty years of diplomatic relations have formed the basis for the close partnerships existing between Germany and Israel in all areas of political life. Visits and return ones on the highest political levels – laden in the early years with great symbolism – have developed into regularly-held exchanges of views among trusted partners. Germany unswervingly places a high priority on ensuring the security of Israel. This policy expresses itself in Germany's efforts to achieve a lasting peace in the Middle East and in resolving the conflict arising from Iran's nuclear program.

 

The values shared by the countries of a belief in rule through democracy and by law form the basis of their resolve to jointly configure their future. A unique trust, a real friendship have emerged out of the abyss constituted by the horrors perpetuated by the Nazis. Israel and Germany have joined forces to jointly take on the future.