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Merkel declares “strong friendship” on arrival in Israel with cabinet
German Chancellor Angela Merkel landed in Israel yesterday evening with her cabinet, for visit designed to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
Speaking alongside Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a joint press conference yesterday evening, Merkel said, “this is indeed a very strong friendship, and a friendship we want to develop further.” Merkel’s desire for closer relations dovetails December’s announcement by European Union foreign ministers that Israel would be granted a Special Privileged Partnership, the closest possible ties with a non-member state, should a peace deal be signed.
Merkel added that Germany had worked “shoulder to shoulder” since diplomatic relations were established with Israel almost exactly 50 years ago “to secure the future of the State of Israel.” She added that “part and parcel” of this “is the two state solution … a Jewish state of Israel and alongside it a Palestinian state,” in what appeared to be a nod towards Prime Minister Netanyahu’s insistence that Palestinian leaders recognise Israel as a characteristically Jewish state.
Netanyahu said that Israel and Germany have a special bond, “forged in tragedy and hope and great friendship and cooperation.” He assured Merkel that “the people of Israel want peace … that ends the conflict.” Netanyahu added that he and Merkel will also discuss “ways to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons capability.” Netanyahu and Merkel held a working dinner and will meet again today before a joint cabinet session in Jerusalem. Merkel is also scheduled to meet opposition leader Issac Herzog and President Shimon Peres, who will present her with the Presidential Medal of Distinction.
Ahead of the trip, German media had suggested that relations were tense between the two countries and Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called settlement construction “destructive” to peace efforts. In an interview with German television station ZDF, Netanyahu shrugged off the criticism, saying, “even among friends, and even in the closest families, there can be disagreements.”