We welcome your friendship & support but prefer you go find another peace process to support. Go to China & fight for Tibet. Go to Sudan & fight for Darfur. Support Taiwan's independence. Spend some time helping establish an independent Kurdish state. Find a worthwhile cause that deserves support. This one deserves only benign neglect.

Germany needs to be much more agressive in supporting the sanctions against Iran. If Merkel really worries about the survival of the Jewish State then she should outlaw all trade between German companies and Iran.

Cetainly by doing business with Iran, Germany is undercutting some of the words of support for Israel, but one can see that this isnt being done maliciously. I do believe Merkel means every detail about supporting Israel, and at worst, Germans have a hedge since they do have a relationship with Iran and lots of commerce riding on it. Things are not always as clean cut as with North Korea where barely anyone respectable does business with them. This is a good show of support by the Germans. I only hope the ties grow stronger.

After incredible fire and fury, the field is now filling with flowers. A world gone mad can smile again. Memories of dispare are bluring. We do not need to live with hell in our daily life, we can leave it in the books and visit it there if we miss it.. Central europe is maturing and still has more work to do. Unfortunaly the same is not yet possible for the Israel / arab struggle as long as arabs require Israel to disappear. The arabs need to take note of how that nasty little idea resulted in hell on earth for Germany. A lesson well learned in Germany resulted in a friendly prosperous and friendly counrty to all. Welcome to Israel Chancellor Merkal

gas purchase deal in the billions by germany from iran stands in direct contradiction to merkel's words in the knesset. how can germany be so concerned about israel's survival, yet purchase and give iran billions of dollars for its gas where iran invests this money in its nuclear ambitions. doesn't make sense and so merkel's message is extremely diluted in importance to the jewish nation's future survival. can not germany purchase natural gas from other countries such as russia for example or any other nation? unless the gas is MUCH CHEAPER FROM IRAN. economic decisions have great impact on political decisions it seems. unfortunate to come to israel with one oral message, yet contradict it entirely by an opposing action.

Prince Charles wa supposed to visit Israel in these days as guests of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. But in an email answer, Clive Alderton, Deputy Private Secretary of Prince Charles, rebuffed the invitation. Israeli ambassador, Zvi Heifetz, commented: “We have very good relations with His Royal Highness Prince Charles, who lately received our acting president, Dalia Itzik. We hope to see him one day in Israel." Probably the cause of canceling the visit was that Britain did not share in the holocaust!

are what differentiate people such as this German spokesperson from the Palestinian folk. Dignity and honour. Those who choose to live in honour and dignity will fight to the last breath, and never care about world opinion. Those who don't are full of hot air, fancy rhethoric, subservience. Subservience in only to God who created us ALL.

their Chancellor's visit to Israel. Her words may not reflect the feelings of most Germans, since they do not wish to read about her visit to Israel or the German news media would have put it on the front page or at least any page in the news.

Well, as far as I know, there is a worldwide uniform price rate for natural gas, be it from Rossija or from the Mullahs. And according to statistics, Rossija is the largest gas supplier to Germany. And sometimes they stop delivery. No, Putin's Rossija isn't a better partner than the Teheran maniacs. Renewable energy such as wind and the sun have to be explored and developed even more. Not only in Germany but all over the world.

To Terry: I do read your comments occasionally, and beg to disagree with your latest. I know where you are coming from, but let's get real. Israel has few good friends in the world. 57 Muslim countries are up front about Palestinian "Resistance" and their views against Israeli defense. Germany will never settle it's score with world Jewry, but at least it's tried and trying. It did provide Israel with 5 Dolphin Class subs (cruise missile armed) and has not boycotted the Jewish state (like Britain). If Israel breaks with Germany, only the Pals will benefit. The US friendship is okay, but waivers...and Israel flinches. Let's not look gift horses. I also applaud the Evangelical support for Israel..which some Jews decry. I mean, what in heavens name do we want? The Messiah is not about to come anytime soon. Germany 1933 is NOT Germany 2008. Lets get realistic...we need friends.

Rivkah, you are so wrong. I read several, major German newspapers in the last 2-3 days. They all have articles and editorials about the visit. Same about the German tv. Tomorrow it will be even more.

In order to put an end to Iran's nuclear program, the U.S.A. has to close the door to investment in the Iran oil sector, loans to the government from the World Bank and from corporations around the world. Only then, it will be possible to negotiate with strength. There is a rumor that the United States is already doing all it can [on Iran] – it is not true.The United States does’nt put sufficient economic pressure on Iran. In the economic area they have been very unwilling to take the steps that have to be taken. Iran is still collecting the physical material needed for nuclear weapons. Iran is on target to having nuclear weapons by the middle of the next decade. Iran is using the development of civilian energy infrastructure to assist its nuclear program. If Iran will have the bomb, it will not hesitate to use its nuclear power against the West as explained at : :http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2008/01/nuclear-power-and-anti-semitism.html

Ms. Merkel undoubtedly means well somewhere in her heart. However, her admonition to stop the rocket attacks is backed by nothing. No threat of action against the Palestinians and no real pressure on the Palestinians .Likewise, her "fear" of Iranian nukes is also nothing but words as Germans continue to cooperate with the Iranian program. Most importantly, her declaration that painful concessions must be made for peace is code for Israel continuing to make concessions that lead to Israeli casualties while no concessions are expected from the Palestinians. Why is clamping down on antisemitism and hateful images of Israel painful? Yet the Palestinians refuse to do anything. A bunch of hot air.

What a farce this is a rediculous show for World Politics. Trying to strengthen a failed inept and man of PM. Se how nice the Germans would be if Israel was to display the kind of Soverign decision making that Iran's Government does.

You once said "One must do something for Israel every day".... Never mind those in both countries who have some or other criticism of this or that .You can see for yourself how delighted the Israeli public and Jews over the world are with your gracious visit (together with so many of your Cabinet) .I see in all the photos taken of your visit, how much you enjoyed all the activities they arranged for you. I also heard how genuine were all the sentiments you expressed . .I have nothing more to say ,except that both Germany and Israel are very fortunate to have you as Chancellor of Germany. May you continue for many many years.

Try these http://www.thelocal.de/?gclid=COv5gOKYl5ICFQ9QQgodkGnj_g http://www.spiegel.de/ http://www.zeit.de/index http://www.welt.de/ AS usual you are well off the mark. Germans living today have nothing to hide or to be shamed about.

That was the Swiss advocate of PallyWood, the detestable Madame Calmy-Rey. Read: US upset with Swiss-Iranian deal--> http://www.24heures.ch/pages/home/tribune_de_geneve/english_corner/news/news_detail/(contenu)/206720

It was important to me to hear, for the first time since ever, that someone of high stature in Germany, utters the correct wording "shame" instead of "guilty". Its, now, up to us the jews, to task to relieve this awfull burden of the face of whom deserves.

is the one with the dignity and honor, the German Chancellor or the Palestinian folk.

Firstly, the German media is reporting on the visit, as was linked to on the talkbacks on YNET article which reported the contrary. Eg: http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,541892,00.html Now, some thoughts: 1) Shame It worries me that Germans feel shame with regards to the Holocaust. Oh they certainly bear the responsibility, financial and moral, that they inherited. But shame is a useless emotion when considering the fact that the Germans of today had no part to play in the Holocaust. They honourably pay their respects, bear the responsibility and support Israel, sometimes when we don't even deserve it. I am horrified by actions which do nothing more than increase the shame that Germans feel on this issue. 2) The reaction of the Knesset The members of the Knesset that refused to come because of Merkel's choice of language are despicable. The German people were born into their terrible legacy, what can they do? And when we refuse the friendship they extend how can they respond? This is nothing less than a kind of emotional bullying. Dalia Itzik's comments seem a bit tactless. Rivers of blood? I think that Merkel is well aware of the history, why wave it in front of her? What can that possibly achieve? Only more shame. After all, no one is forgetting anything, on the contrary, the Holocaust is clearly given due respect in her visit. 3) Too much or too little support? Are Merkel's statements to Iran enough? I think it depends on your perspective. (And obviously on the actions to follow.) Recently she said "The rocket fire of southern Israel, as the continuous building in of settlements, make the process harder." (YNET) And some Israelis took offence. Yet in Germany she is criticised for not being critical of Israel. (Which I'm sure is a legitimate action in some cases.) Let's not forget that she's not a dictator, she has to play politics. Do our own leaders act as decisively as we want them to? Has our own government actually managed to improve life in Israel on any one front, be it Peace, Security, Education, Economy, Social issues?

to include "aspects of Shariah law into the British legal system", as the Archbishop of Canterbury said, to the glee of the Moslem world. Since Prince Charles will one day become Defender of the Faith which the Archbishop presides over, it would be unwise for him to visit Israel at a time when British appeasement of the Islamic word appears to be working so well! Why rock the boat?

"Germans living today have nothing to hide or to be shamed about" On the other hand, you do.

what are you talking about? it's on every frontpage.

I don't know how you come to the idea that the german media would ignore Merkel's visit to Israel -- As a German who reads German media, I can say that the media definitely is reporting -- maybe not on the front page, maybe not as extensively as about the protests in Tibet, the riots in Kosovo or the global financial crisis. But they are reporting. Two days ago, I even read on the web page of the biggest tv news programme (tagesschau.de) an article which mentioned a low interest of the _Israeli_ media for this visit. It reported that e.g. the news programme on arutz 10 didn't feature it prominently, but only dedicated 30 seconds in the news prrogramme to it.

Germany is the number one trading partner of Iran, and so far has rebuffed any effort at trade sanctions to curtail Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"The members of the Knesset that refused to come because of Merkel's choice of language are despicable. The German people were born into their terrible legacy, what can they do?" Tell me, Avinoam, how many MK's boycotted the speech? 4? They are excercising their personal freedom not to be present. This is not the Politburo or one of Saddam's Baath Party conferences, so please, try not to denounce. The bottom line is, the speech went ahead and was approved. Leave well enough alone. Move on. Israel has actually been very correct with Germany. It is seldom mentioned that Israel payed large sums of reparations to the German Templers who could not return to their homes in Israel after 1948, after being deported by the British for collaborating with the Nazis. Remember, even today, Germany are not exactly miskenim, and are no angels either. Germany is the no. 1 trading partner of Iran. Germany, despite being the only country in Europe to reunite its territory since 1945, played a recognizable role in the breakup of its old foe Yugoslavia and now, Serbia. There are now louder and louder calls from the descendants of German refugees from western Poland and Sudetenland to get some kind of 'right of return' or compensation. You seem to be more worried about the dignity of the Germans, who have never had it better, than about the dignity of Israel and the Jewish people, who are entering yet another period of tribulations and torments.

please? yes, we should all be aware and study it, but lets not frame our future solely through the prism of the Holocaust experience. Germany and Israel needs to stop apologizing and start moving on. I'm saying this as a Jew.

chancellor is in Israel. Glad to hear it. They missed the last several days, didn't they?