Germany–Israel relations
German -Israeli relations describe the relationship between Israel and Germany, based on a community of values and a similar view of the recent history. The genocide by Nazi Germany at the European Jews during the Holocaust plays a prominent role.
Luxembourg Agreement
In the early 1950s, the negotiations between the Israeli Prime Minister David Ben- Gurion, the chairman of the Jewish Claims Conference Nahum Goldmann and the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer began. Because of the sensitivity of the decision to accept a reparation of the Federal Republic, this question was debated in the Israeli parliament. 1952, the Luxembourg Agreement was concluded. By 2007, Germany paid 25 billion euros in reparations to the Israeli state and individual Israeli holocaust survivors.
Diplomacy and Politics
1950 Hermann Maas was officially invited to be the first German to Israel. After 15 years, the Federal Republic of Germany and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1965 then on. Since that time, state visits between the two countries are held regularly. On his first official state visit outside Europe, Federal President Roman Herzog of Israel in 1994. According to the government moved from Bonn to Berlin, it was the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who was invited as the first foreign head of government to Berlin in 1999. Chancellor Gerhard Schröder visited Israel in October 2000. Occasion of the 2005 40-year celebration of the anniversary of diplomatic relations, Federal President Horst Köhler and Israeli President Moshe Katsav visited each other. The two countries established a network of contacts between parliamentary, governmental and non-governmental organizations in strategic and security issues.
The German - Israeli Society was founded in 1966 as a friendly organization. The Statute states: " The object of the society is to strengthen relations between Germany and Israel in all matters of public and cultural life, the society aims to promote international solidarity, tolerance and understanding between nations, especially in the Middle East.. "
For the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence equipped Chancellor Angela Merkel Israel from a three-day visit. She signed with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert a number of projects, including on education, environment and defense matters .. This was the first meeting between the federal cabinet and a cabinet outside Europe. The joint meeting will be a regular event forming expected. On 18 March 2008, Merkel held in the Knesset, an internationally acclaimed speech in German language. Merkel's speech aroused resentment among some members of the Knesset. Benjamin Netanyahu commented that the speech would have had to be canceled or will be held in English.
Trade
Germany is Israel's largest trading partner in Europe and Israel's third largest trading partner after the United States and China. Israel imported goods from Germany for the equivalent of 2.3 billion U.S. dollars.
Culture, Science and Community Programs
To promote scientific exchange between Israeli and German universities, the Minerva Foundation, a subsidiary of the Max Planck Society was founded. During the visit of President Moshe Katzav Bundestag President Wolfgang Thierse supported the establishment of the German -Israeli co-ordination center for youth ConAct, based on the model of the French-German and German - Polish Youth Office. So should understand the German and Israeli youth of the common history and the sensitivity of the relations. There are a number of exchange programs between young Israelis and Germans. More than 2,000 Israelis and 4,500 German take part in an exchange program of the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Children. The German organization Action Reconciliation Service for Peace plays an important role in German and Israelis merge. Since 1961, the Action Reconciliation over 2,500 volunteer has taught in Israeli hospitals and social programs. Churches and economic groupings are actively involved in a development of the relationships. Youth Exchange since 1960, many athletes who from 1962 by the German Sports Youth talked intensive contacts with Israel and thus paved the way for good contacts of sports federations involved. Both the German Olympic Sports Confederation and the German Football Association have signed cooperation agreements with their respective counterpart in Israel.
About 100 Israeli cities and local authorities maintain connections to Germany. Haifa has five twinning in Germany, Tel Aviv and Netanya four two.
Military Cooperation
From 1959 to 1967, the Federal Republic of Germany was a major supplier of military equipment and arms to Israel. After the delivery of German tanks to Israel was stopped in 1965, the United States took over the supply of 210 M48 Patton tanks. Germany supplied Israel with Dolphin -class submarines, and in return Germany was equipped with designed in Israel Spike anti-tank missiles. 2008, a secret German -Israeli cooperation was announced in an anti- nuclear early warning system was developed, called " Operation Bluebird ".