Opinion
After 50 years, are Israel and Germany really friends?
Felix Berenskoetter
Published: 12.05.15, 12:02
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4 Talkbacks for this article
1. Israel doesn't get any financial aid
Alon   (05.12.15)
Israel doesn't get any direct financial aid from the US or Germany. The US gives Israel a generous military aid. Israel trades with Germany, but doesn't get from it any significant gifts. The German government subsidies the new corvettes Israel bought, because they were too expensive compared to the competing Korean corvettes offered to Israel.
2. 2 different situations
Rod ,   Fargo N.Dakota   (05.12.15)
Good article however there is 2 different situations.The American people or a good part are pro Israel.In Germany the Govt is pro Israel but for most part the people like all Europeans aren't
3. Meaning of friendship
Bertram ,   London, UK.   (05.12.15)
I am puzzled by the idea that countries can ever be friends. Individual human beings can be friends but countries are abstract entities. While individual leaders might befriend each other the most that can happen between nations is the forging of alliances through treaties and the like. Such alliances may be long-lived, others not so. While cultural affinity may in some cases be significant the overriding factor is normally that of mutual self-interest.
4. #1 You are not informed well
Mark B. ,   Amsterdam / Holland   (05.14.15)
Germany has provided Israel for free (curtosy of the German taxpayer) with the atomic submarines of the Dolphin class. They are not cheap. Before that, Germany has given Israel tens of billions of dollars, mostly in the 1960-ies and 1970-ies in aid (when Israel was not the economic powerhouse it is today).
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