March 16-18, 2008 Visit by the German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, the Israel Government invites German Federal Chancellor
Angela Merkel to speak to the Knesset. For the first time, there is to be a joint session of representatives of both cabinets. According to the wishes of both heads of government, this should lead to regular government consultations. The German Federal Ministry for Science and Research and the Israel Ministry for Science, Culture and Sports declare the year 2008 "The German-Israeli Year of Science and Technology." The 60th anniversary is also part of the focus of the German Foreign Ministry's cultural and political activities this year.
[1] 2006 Assignment in Lebanon for the Bundeswehr (German Federal Armed Forces) Since October 2006, German Federal Naval Forces have been taking part in guarding the coast of Lebanon, within the framework of the UN UNIFIL mission. On September 12, 2006, the Bundestag (German Federal Parliament) decides, with a large majority, to extend the assignment by a year. Opposite the Bundestag, German Federal Foreign Minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasizes Germany's increased responsibility in the Middle East.
[2] May 12, 2005 40 Years Diplomatic Relations
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the commencement of diplomatic relations, German Federal President
Horst Köhler and Israel's President
Moshe Katsav honor the "ties of friendship" between Germany and Israel. With a joint celebration for 600 young Germans and Israelis on May 31st, Köhler emphasizes the special significance of youth exchange. Katsav gives a speech in the course of a special session at the Reichstag. Earlier, at the beginning of February, Köhler gave a speech at the Knesset; he was the second German head of state to do so. In this speech, he again declared war on anti-Semitism.
[3] January 29, 2004 "Operation Light Blue – White"
German officials monitor hand-overs between Israel and Hezbullah. Two planes headed to Cologne: A German one from Beirut carried
Elhanan Tennenbaum and the bodies of the three Israeli soldiers. An Israeli one from Tel Aviv carried 28 Arab prisoners and the German
Steven Smyrek. At the same time, Israel brought the bodies of 59 Lebanese fighters to its Northern border as well as 401 Palestinian prisoners to check points with the Palestinian territories. Israel also provided information about 24 missing Lebanese as well as maps of minefields in Lebanon.
[4] November 28, 1997 Capture of Steven Smyrek
The German Steven Smyrek from Braunschweig, who had converted to Islam and had planned to carry out a terror attack in Israel, is detained upon his arrival in Israel in a German-Israeli cooperation. Smyrek had been trained by Hezbullah in Lebanon. In January 2004, Smyrek was prematurely released from custody as part of the German-brokered exchange deal between Israel and Hezbullah.
[5] July 21, 1996 Mass exchange of prisoners and bodies between Israel and Lebanon
In 1995, the German and Israeli Governments admitted that they had for several years been mediating between Israel and Iran on the case of the kidnapped Israeli pilot
Ron Arad. The talks never led to the release of Arad, but they resulted in some successes: After an initial swap of two imprisoned Hezbullah fighters against two captured South Lebanese Army (SLA) militiamen in mid-1996, a transport plane of the German Air Force flies the bodies of two fallen Israeli soldiers to Israel. 45 Lebanese prisoners were released by Israel. Hezbullah handed over 21 imprisoned SLA fighters to Israel. Lebanon received the bodies of 123 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters. That Hezbullah had been willing to release the dead bodies of the Israeli soldiers prior to receiving its own people had been made possible only through the involvement by the German minister of State in the Chancellor's Office.
[6] December 10, 1994 Israel's "Privileged Status" with the EU Due to an Initiative Taken by Chancellor Kohl As the only Mediterranean state, Israel receives privileged status in the course of developing closer relations with the European Union (the "Essen Declaration"). In many aspects, this decision remains without concrete results.
[7] January 17 – February 28, 1991 Gulf War– Bundestag Approves Military Equipment for Israel In the face of the Scud attacks (18.1.1991) on Israel and of previous contributions of German companies to both Iraq's chemical arsenal and the technical improvement of its missiles, on 30.1.1991, the German government earmarked 165 Mio. DM for the funding of an improved American Patriot battery. Together with the grant of 840 Mio. DM for the construction of two submarines, financial aid for military systems supplied to Israel amounted to 1.03 Billion DM. If the military aid from the Bundeswehr and the humanitarian aid of 225 Mio DM are added, Israel received a total of 1.362 Billion DM from Germany. This was later complemented by another 240 Million DM for the financing of 50% of the third Dolphin submarine.
[8] On 24 December 1992, the Bundestag honored the military cooperation. Later, on 24 November 1998, a Memorandum of Understanding on collaboration in weapons technology R&D was signed. Thereafter, several sub-agreements were signed every year.
[9] During the 2002/2003 Iraq crisis a two year leasing contract for two Patriot PAC-2 batteries was signed between the two Ministries of Defense. The patriots arrived in early February 2003.
[10] 1 December 1989 Letter from Kohl to Shamir about German Unity Following the opening of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, German Federal Chancellor Kohl assures Prime Minister Shamir in a letter: "There will be no threat emanating to anywhere in Europe or anywhere else from a democratic Germany that is governed in accordance with the rule of the law." After completing Germany's reunification on October 3, 1990, the President of the Bundestag (German Federal Parliament),
Rita Süssmuth, and the President of the Volkskammer (Peoples' Parliament of the former GDR),
Sabine Bergmann-Pohl, visit Israel from June 25 - 27, 1990, in order to give reassurance regarding Germany's reunification. Earlier, the freely elected Volkskammer of the GDR had accepted "the responsibility of Germans in the GDR for their history" and had condemned the Holocaust: "We ask Jews all over the world for forgiveness. We ask the people of Israel for forgiveness for the hypocrisy and hostility shown by official GDR politics towards the State of Israel and for the persecution and humiliation of Jewish fellow citizens in our country even after 1945. […]. We declare that we are willing to do our best to establish diplomatic relations as well as initiate a range of contacts with the State of Israel".
[11] At the same time, from January 29 to July 4, 1990, three talks of three days each about questions of compensation took place between Israel and the GDR in Copenhagen.
[12] July 4, 1986 Establishment of the German-Israeli Foundation for Scientific Research and Development (GIF)
Seed capital of DM 150 million is contributed equally by both states. On March 10, 1993, the GIF Foundation's capital will be increased to €190 million, and in 2005, increased again to €210 million.
[13] Out of about 4,500 research applications, so far 875 grants in a total amount of €138 million have been allocated. In addition, in the year 2000, the foundation established the GIF Young Scientists' Program for up and coming German and Israeli scientists under 40 years of age.
[14] 1979 Opening of the Goethe Institute in Tel Aviv
1987 marks the opening of the Goethe Institute in Jerusalem. Both institutes are involved in promoting dialogue between the German and Israeli arts and cultural scenes. In the course of conferences and workshops, discussions on contemporary and sociopolitical issues within the context of German-Israeli relations are discussed.
[15] July 31, 1978 Memorandum of Understanding for the procurement of Cerberus
The system was to be installed in the Tordnados of the Luftwaffe to jam enemy radars. Its impact on the capacity of the Air Force was deemed highly important with respect to the Federal Republic's role in the NATO's nuclear strategy, as the Bundeswehr did not possess nuclear missiles. Germany also bought an Israeli jammer, the later version of which came to be known as the Tornado Self Protection Jammer. Until 1990, 225 Cerberus III jammers were delivered.
[16] October 28, 1975 First Town Twinning between Dimona and Andernach
In 1993, Israel came in second, in Germany, with 75 town twinnings (after the USA). Likewise, Germany is the country with the largest number of town twinnings in Israel. In 1996, Freiberg in Saxony founded a partnership with Ness Ziona and was the first East German city to do so. The last town twinning took place in May 2001, between Sankt Augustin and the Israeli town of Mevasseret Zion. Today, there are more than 100 such partnerships.
[17] September 3, 1975 Partnership Agreement between the German Trade Union Association (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, DGB) and its Israeli Counterpart (Histadrut)
For both organizations, this is the only such partnership agreement. Ten out of the 13 districts of the DGB have entered partnerships with districts of the Histadrut. The DGB accompanies the peace process in the Middle East with a variety of trade union projects, through the exchange of visitors and joint seminars.
[18] September 5, 1972 Terror Attack on Israeli Team during the Olympic Games in Munich
During the attack carried out by the "Black September" terrorist group on the Israeli team, all eleven athletes are taken hostage and killed.
[19] 1969 Establishment of the German-Israeli Parliamentary Group in the Bundestag (German Federal Parliament)
Inspired by the first visit of Knesset members in the Federal Republic of Germany from March 17 - 31, 1969, the German-Israeli Parliamentary Group was founded in 1970, following an initiative taken by members of the Bundestag,
Jürgen Wohlrabe (CDU) and
Annemarie Renger (SPD). This group comprises 100 members. In June1971, the visit of a first group of parliamentarians from the Bundestag took place. In February, 1978, the Israeli-German Parliamentarian Group is established in the Knesset.
[20] April 18, 1967 Establishment of the German-Israeli Chamber of Commerce in Tel Aviv
This bilateral service center has been part of Germany's network of foreign trade representations since November 1995. In Germany, the "German Association for the Promotion of Economic Ties with Israel" was founded (later: "German-Israeli Economic Association").
[21] May 12, 1966 Agreement on Economic Aid
Negotiations on economic issues began on February 22, 1966. The agreement served as a pilot for the agreements that followed in subsequent years. In 1968, the original annual amount [of economic aid] was reduced from DM 160 million to DM 140 million; 1996/1999: Agreement to turn the German loans into donations for projects to support the peace process in the Middle East and agreement on the step-by-step phase-out of economic help by 2001.
[22] March 21, 1966 Establishment of the Germany-Israel Association (DIG)
The founding president was the later the Minister of Justice,
Gerhard Jahn. Since 1978, annual conferences with the participation of members of parliament have been taking place. Currently, there are 48 workshops in Germany, with a total of about 5,500 members, as well as a youth forum that is active all over German.
[23] In April, 1971, the Israel-Germany Association was founded, and in May, 1990, its Israeli-German youth forum was established. In addition, there are 16 local associations in Israel.
[24] May 12, 1965 Levi Eshkol and Ludwig Erhardt establish Diplomatic Relations
In February, 1965, German military aid for Israel was explicitly publicized. On February 17, 1965, the Federal Government stopped the arms deliveries. With the visit of the GDR's President of State and Prime Minister,
Walter Ulbricht, to Egypt from February 24 to March 1, 1965, Bonn's Middle East politics entered a crisis. On March 7, 1965, Chancellor
Ludwig Erhardt declares the beginning of diplomatic relations [with Israel], and on March 8, 1965, CDU politician
Kurt Birrenbach begins negotiations in Jerusalem. Three months later, relations could be formalized. Ten Arab states broke off diplomatic relations with Germany, but did not carry out their threat to officially acknowledge the GDR, as a counter draw. On March 25, 1965, the Knesset accepts the exchange of ambassadors. In May, 1965, ten Arab states break off relations with Germany. On August 18 and 24, 1965, letters of accreditation are presented by Ambassadors
Rolf Pauls and
Asher Ben Natan, respectively.
[25] April 11, 1961 Opening of Proceedings Against Eichmann
The proceedings against Adolf Eichmann receive intense international attention, and are followed closely, especially in Germany and Israel. The public discussion of the Nazi past that the proceedings triggered present an important incentive for "dealing with the past" in the Federal Republic.
[26] December 1-9, 1959 Visit of a Delegation from the Max Planck Association to Israel
The Max Planck Association and the Weizmann Institute had already enjoyed comprehensive cooperation long before diplomatic relations were initiated. This resulted in the establishment of the Minerva Association with its Minerva Weizmann Project Program, which currently runs 80 individual projects; in the establishment of 40 Minerva Research Centers at Israeli universities (endowment fund from the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research: a total of €70 million); its 5 Junior Project Groups, 50 long-term and 25 short-term grants for visiting academics and the Gentner symposia on current research issues. In the year 2003, the total of subsidies amounted to € 5.2 million.
[27] July 1, 1959 The Knesset Approves Delivery of Arms to the Bundeswehr (German Federal Defense Forces)
In March, the German Federal Government decides on the purchase of Israeli Uzi machine guns for the German Federal Defense Force.
[28] The agreement had been discussed on December 27, 1957 between
Shimon Peres and Minister of Defense,
Franz-Josef Strauß. This was the first meeting between Germans and Israelis in which the main focus lay on joint questions of military and defense politics.
[29] In addition to Great Britain and France, the Federal Republic of Germany was the only country that helped the Jewish state during the Suez Crisis.
[30] June 27, 1957 Ben Gurion Publicly Demands "Normal Diplomatic Relations"
The German Federal Government ignores the signals and repeatedly declares that taking up diplomatic relations with Israel is not on the agenda. On March 14, 1960, the famous meeting between Ben Gurion and Adenauer at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York takes place. This meeting went very well and was considered a sensation.
[31] On September 16, 1963, Adenauer's last attempt to establish diplomatic relations fails. Later, the former German Chancellor visits Ben Gurion at Kibbutz Sde Boker from May 2-10, 1966. Barely one year later, Ben Gurion, together with Foreign Minister
Abba Eban, attends Adenauer's burial in Bonn (April 22-23, 1967).
[32] September 10, 1952 Signing of the Israel Treaty ("Reparation Agreement") and the two Den Haag Protocols in Luxemburg ("Luxemburg Agreement") by German Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett The German Federal Government commits itself to pay about DM 3.5 billion in compensation to Jewish victims of National Socialism. Since its inception in 1953, the Jewish Claims Conference (JCC) represents the compensation claims of Jewish victims of National Socialism and Holocaust survivor.
[33] In the session of the Bundestag on March 18, 1953, the Israel Treaty and the Den Haag Protocols were discussed during their second and third hearings. Out of 402 delegates, 360 took part in the vote. 20 were absent without valid excuse. 239 voted "Yes", 35 delegates voted "No." 86 delegates abstained. Only the Social Democrats voted as one, with "Yes.".
[34] Following ratification, the Arab states threatened with an economic boycott but understood that they would have caused damage to themselves. On February 17, 1955, the first freight ship delivers "Shilumim" goods to Israel, carrying the German flag.
[35] 1952 In Paris, Nahum Goldmann and Konrad Adenauer Initiate the Exchange of Youth Groups
Until 1959, there were only a few attempts to make this idea a reality – by the Israel Youth Hostel Association and other bodies which, at the time, were at all willing to take in German educators and youth.
[36] January 1, 1975, the "Joint Regulations for the Implementation and Promotion of German-Israeli Youth Exchange" were ratified. In 1994, the German Federal Ministry for Youth extended the budget for German-Israeli Youth Exchange from DM 1.75 million to DM 2 million. On October 23, 2001, President
Johannes Rau inaugurated the German Coordination Office "ConAct" in Wittenberg.
[37] September 27, 1951 Official Acceptance in the Bundestag (German Federal Parliament) of German Responsibility for Crimes Committed Against Jews
The declaration is considered an important prerequisite for the Luxemburg Agreements. The central clause read, "In the name of the German people, unspeakable crimes were committed which make it imperative to deliver moral and material compensation." There was no mention of the original Jewish demand to admit to collective guilt. By contrast, the term coined by German Federal President
Theodor Heuss in 1949, "collective shame," was widely accepted in intellectual circle.
[38] On December 6, 1951, Adenauer wrote in a letter to
Nahum Goldmann, president of the Jewish World Congress and founding chairman of the Claims Conference, that the Federal Republic of Germany "considered the question of compensation, above all, also to be a question of moral obligation (…) and a duty of honor to the German people."
[39] Following three days of debates, the Knesset agreed, in January 1952, to enter into negotiations. Prime Minister
Ben Gurion convinced the Knesset to narrowly vote in favor – against the protest voiced by his rival,
Menachem Begin.
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