President Reuven Rivlin warmly welcomed his German counterpart on Thursday, praising him as an ally in combatting anti-Semitism.
Rivlin said that Germany has been Israel's "strong partner in the uncompromising fight against anti-Semitism" and has stood with Israel against "the forces of terror who seek to wipe us off the map."
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President Reuven Rivlin greeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the President's Residence in Jerusalem
(Photo: AP)
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also met with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in Jerusalem. The prime minister's office said in a statement that the two discussed Iran's nuclear program, and that Bennett restated Israel's determination to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Steinmeier invited Bennett to visit Germany.
In his speech during a ceremony at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, Steinmeier addressed last month's fighting between Israel and Hamas, saying that it showed that "the Israel-Palestine conflict is by no means calmed."
He stressed his support for a two-state solution, calling for confidence-building measures between Israel and the Palestinians.
Steinmeier also condemned missile attacks by Palestinian terror groups on Israeli civilians, calling it "something we will never accept."
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President Rivlin and German President Steinmeier plant a tree, at the President's Residence in Jerusalem
(Photo: AP)
Rivlin said that Germany has been “our strong partner in the uncompromising fight against anti-Semitism” and has stood with Israel against “the forces of terror who seek to wipe us off the map.”
Nazi Germany and its collaborators murdered 6 million European Jews in the Holocaust. Germany’s postwar leaders have repeatedly apologized for the Nazi atrocities and it has paid hundreds of millions of dollars in reparations to Jewish victims. Israel and Germany have developed close ties in recent years.
During a solemn visit to Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, Steinmeier said the “unspeakable suffering” caused in Germany’s name “fills us with pain and shame.”
“We will keep the memory of this alive for the sake of those who were murdered and for the sake of future generations,” he said.
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German Steinmeier lays a wreath during a visit to the Hall of Remembrance at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem
(Photo: AP)
Germany launched a new initiative with the United States last week to stem an alarming rise in anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial around the world.
The U.S.-Germany Holocaust Dialogue seeks to reverse the trend, which gained traction during the coronavirus pandemic amid a surge in political populism across Europe and the U.S. The dialogue creates a way to develop educational and messaging tools to teach youth and others about the crimes of the Nazis and their collaborators.
Later in the evening, Rivlin hosted Steinmeier for a dinner at his official residence, and the German president reiterated his country's strong support for Israel.
"It does not matter how quickly the world changes, we will do our best to preserve the special friendship between Israel and Germany. Germany will continue to stand by Israel, and Israel will continue to be a wonderful friend to Germany," Steinmeier told Rivlin, according to remarks released by Rivlin's office.