Chancellor Angela Merkel and Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin discussed German-Israeli relations and the current situation in Israel. The Middle East conflict and the crises in the region were also important items on the agenda.

Angela Merkel had earlier honoured the anniversary of 12 May 1965. She wrote that the establishment of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel was akin to a miracle after the Shoah.

She recalled the historic achievement of the two statesmen David Ben-Gurion and Konrad Adenauer, who together paved the way for this step. The Chancellor also mentioned the government consultations between the two countries and the encounters of young people which bring to life German-Israeli friendship. Now, she said, it is time "to shape our future to our mutual benefit."

Angela Merkel and Reuven Rivlin also met participants of the German-Israeli youth congress. Talks focused on the experience of these young people with exchange programmes and volunteering.

Reuven Rivlin, President of the State of Israel, and his wife Nechama Rivlin were invited by Federal President Joachim Gauck to pay a state visit to Germany from 10 to 13 May. Fifty years after diplomatic relations were established on 12 May 1965 the anniversary and the trust and good relations that link Germany and Israel are at the heart of their visit. On Tuesday evening (12 May) an official ceremony to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Israel was held in the Berliner Philharmonie.

Israelis offered to trust the Germans, said Joachim Gauck

On Monday evening (11 May) Federal President Joachim Gauck invited his visitors to a state banquet at Schloss Bellevue. He declared, "Fifty years ago, on 12 May 1965, Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany established diplomatic relations. I am delighted to be able to celebrate this anniversary with you."

He continued, "And I thank you from the bottom of my heart, that you have come to us in Berlin. That is more than a gesture of trust and a reflection of our strong links. It expresses the close partnership and friendship which has been able to grow between our two nations."

Federal President Joachim Gauck pointed out that in 1965 hardly anyone would have thought possible what has happened between Israelis and Germans over the last fifty years. Chaim Herzog, who was the first Israeli head of state to visit the Federal Republic of Germany, found the right words to express this, when he said it is a miracle that reconciliation and understanding has been able to develop following the Shoah. This miracle could only come to fruition because Israelis offered to trust the Germans again. And he added, "We accepted this gift with gratitude and humility, first in the west and later, following the peaceful revolution, also in the east."

Moral responsibility to the Jewish people

The Federal President made it quite clear that "our normal relations should remain special relations for ever", because "Israel and Germany are linked by the memory of the Shoah. We Germans are fully aware of our moral responsibility to the Jewish people and the State of Israel, and we will not allow this awareness to fade. What also links our two countries is the values for which we stand."

Federal Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen in Israel

Parallel to President Rivlin’s visit to Germany, Federal Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen is visiting Israel. She visited the German frigate Karlsruhe in Haifa and has held initial talks with her Israeli counterpart Mosche Jaalon.

On Tuesday (12 Mai) Ursula von der Leyen laid a wreath at the Yad Vashem Holocuast memorial site. Her subsequent meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu focused on aspects of security policy and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.