Today, Germany is one of the most reliable allies of the State of Israel. Limited diplomatic relations were established between the two states in 1956; in 1965, relations were fully normalized, even though the move led to the severance of relations between Germany and most Arab states. In the post-World War 2 era Germany assisted the young state of Israel by providing infrastructure including roads, railways and public buildings. This also helped support German industries and helped the country bounce back after the war. When the first post-war German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer met with Israel's first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion on March 14 1960 in New York City it was an emotional and intense moment. After the meeting it was announced that Germany had authorized $75-100 million in loans to Israel, but David Ben-Gurion was met with harsh criticism from Jews around the globe. In subsequent years, Germany has become second only to the United States in its economic relations with Israel, by importing and exporting, and providing assistance in the form of grants and loans. Additionally, Germany has played a leading role in shaping the pro-Israel attitudes of many European countries.
When the Berlin wall came down in 1989 Israelis held their breath, skeptical of the new unification and worried that a larger and more powerful Germany may not be as wary of it's past. The unified Germancountry has however not turned against Israel and has proven to be a valuable international ally.
Germany is Israel's largest trading partner in Europe; in 2013 Israel imported $4.6 billion in German goods. Germany has pursued a close relationship with Israel in the post-World War 2 era in order to regain legitimacy on the international stage and attempt to reconcile with Jews around the globe. This support forIsrael crosses party lines in Germany. German officials strongly oppose the BDS movement, with only 97 out of 751 members of German Parliament favoring the actions of the BDS movement. Germany was one of only 14 countries to vote against the Palestinian bid to join UNESCO in 2011.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel became the first Chancellor to address the Knesset in 2008, causing five members of the Knesset to storm out of the room. It is believed that they were protesting the fact that German was being spoken by Merkel in the Knesset building. Merkel has forged a working relationship with her Israeli counterparts, often bringing her cabinet members with her to meetings in Jerusalem in attempts to form bonds between the groups.
Germany and Israel share a relationship that includes strategic military cooperation as well as economic and political cooperation. Since 1991 Germany has delivered five Dolphin submarines that can be used to carry nuclear missiles to Israel, and the Germans are a major supplier of Israeli arms and weaponry. In the 1960's it is believed that Israeli "Operation Samson" was in fact a top secret mission to develop a nuclear missile with France's assistance using German reparration funds. According to a 2006 US Congressional Research Service report, German supplied arms played an integral role in fortifying the Israeli military through their conflicts in 1967, 1973, and 1982. German intelligence also played an integral role in the negotiation for the safe return of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. In July 2014 it was announced that Germany was going to sell Israel two destroyer battleships for $1 billion Euros in order to help Israel protect it's off-shore natural gas holdings. Germany provided Israel with it's fourth submarine in September 2014. The submarine, known as the INS Tanin docked at Haifa Naval Base on September 24 and is the first submarine that Israel is recieving from the new generation of Dolphin submarines. The INS Tanin can stay underwater for significantly longer than the other 3 Dolphin-class submarines that the Israeli military has. A fifth German built submarine, the INS Rahav, began it's journey from Germany to Israel on December 17, 2015.
Political opinion polls show a divide between the government policy and the new generation of Germans coming of age currently. The German government officials base their political policy on the ties and events of the past, remembering the Holocaust vividly and basing their decisions on the strategic relationship shared with Israel and forged through this horror. The younger generation however wishes to take actions and make judgements about Israel based on the current situation and Israel's current behavior. Because of this, the special relationship that Israel shares with Germany is in danger. The best way to combat this and ensure that the current younger generation sees that the Germany-Israel relationship is crucial to the well-being of both nations is increased Holocaust education in German schools. In 2013 Yad Vashem signed an agreement with education ministers from every German state that develops new and improved Holocaust education programs.
In 2015 the Israeli and German governments are planning a year-long celebration to honor the 50th anniversary of official diplomatic relations between the two countries, which began in 1965. This celebration will include soccer matches, cultural and social events, and celebrations of scientific and economic cooperation.
Talks for the purchase of missile boats between German arms producers and Israel began in late 2013, and Israel expected to recieve their usual 30% discount on the boats. However, following Operation Protective Edge and the unsuccessful peace talks, along with the announcement of new settlements, Germany stalled on the deal and informed the Israelis that they would no longer be subsidising the purchase of the missile boats. Talks between Israeli and German officials commenced in June 2014 in an attempt to get the arms deal back on schedule, and eventually on October 19 the German government agreed to give Israel the discount despite the failed peace with the Palestinians and the announcement of new settlements. Germany gave Israel a total discount of $382 million on the boat.
Haifa based Elbit Systems Ltd announced on November 17, 2014, that they had struck a deal with the German Air Force to install their J-Music anti-missile laser protection system on German Air Force transport planes. The J-Music system is designed to protect military and commercial aircraft from attacks coming from ground-to-air heat seeking portable missiles. The Israeli Defense Department carried out successful tests of the J-Music system in February 2014, and they have already delivered the hardware to various customers around the globe. The J-Music system detects incoming heat seeking missiles with an infrared sensor, and then fires a laser at the missile which disrupts it's navigational capabilities.
As part of their ongoing commitment to the safety and security of Israel, the German government will be financing part of the cost of four new Corvette warships for the Israeli Navy. These ships will be made by the German company Thyssen Krupp under a deal that was struck in late November 2014. The German government committed at least $115 million Euros to the production of these ships for Israel.
German Foreign Minister Frank Walter-Steinmeier met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday November 15 2014. During the meeting they discussed establishing peace between the Israelis and Palestinians, and Walter-Steinmeier made it abundantly clear that the only way for a Palestinian state to be established is through direct bilateral negotiations with Israel, stating that there is "no alternative to negotiations". This meeting came aftre a number of nonbinding resolutions passed by multiple European governments pledged to unilaterally recognize the state of Palestine in an effort to move peace negotiations forward. These resolutions were passed by Britain, Ireland, Spain, and Sweden, and are symbolic, non-binding and have no legal consequences. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel was firm in her support for a 2 state solution on November 20 and rejected these unilateral recognitions of Palestine by other European nations. Merkel stated that she understands how difficult it is going to be to reach a 2 state solution and thinks that "unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state won't move us forward." Instead of passing these non-binding meaningless resolutions, Merkel said that governments should focus solely on reigniting talks between the Israelis and Palestinians (AP, November 21 2014).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled a planned trip to Germany during October 2015, due to increasing tensions surrounding access to the Temple Mount and an uptick in violent Palestinian attacks against Israelis.
European Union nations voted in November 2015 to label all products produced on Israeli land seized following the 1967 War as “made in settlements,” a move that prompted harsh criticism from Israeli officials. , “The EU decision is hypocritical and constitutes a double standard,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “It singles out Israel and not the 200 other conflicts around the world. The EU has decided to label only Israel, and we are not prepared to accept the fact that Europe is labeling the side that is being attacked by terrorism. The Israeli economy is strong and will withstand this; those who will be hurt will be those Palestinians who work in Israeli factories. The EU should be ashamed.” To read the letter penned by the European Union nations expressing their support for the labelling of these goods, please click here. During the week following the E.U.'s decision to label these products, the Israeli Foreign Ministry suspended all Diplomatic contacts with European Union on matters related to Israeli-Palestinian peace. A statement released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry on November 29, 2015, clarified that Israel would continue diplomatic relations with individual countries, but the ban applies to E.U. institutions and officials. A European Union spokesperson responded, stating that they would continue to work towards peace in the Middle East with the quartet and their other partners, despite being shut out by Israel. The President of German Parliament came out during the week following the EU's decision, stating that Germany did not support the decision to label the goods, and in fact rejected the idea when it was presented. German Bundestag (Parliament) President Norbert Lammert said during a joint press conference with Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein, that “Germany can imagine a better law, if it were to apply to everyone, on principle, to all occupied land. Because it's specifically against Israel, I repeat that it is unnecessary and not very smart.”
Political opinion polls show a divide between the government policy and the new generation of Germans coming of age currently. The German government officials base their political policy on the ties and events of the past, remembering the Holocaust vividly and basing their decisions on the strategic relationship shared with Israel and forged through this horror. The younger generation however wishes to take actions and make judgements about Israel based on the current situation and Israel's current behavior. Because of this, the special relationship that Israel shares with Germany is in danger. The best way to combat this and ensure that the current younger generation sees that the Germany-Israel relationship is crucial to the well-being of both nations is increased Holocaust education in German schools. In 2013 Yad Vashem signed an agreement with education ministers from every German state that develops new and improved Holocaust education programs.
In 2015 the Israeli and German governments are planning a year-long celebration to honor the 50th anniversary of official diplomatic relations between the two countries, which began in 1965. This celebration will include soccer matches, cultural and social events, and celebrations of scientific and economic cooperation.
Announced as an ad-on to the purchase of four Corvette war ships from Germany during months prior, in May 2015 Israel Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon revealed that Israel had also purchased four Patriot missile batteries from Germany. As a part of the transaction, Israel also recieved a grant of $128 million from the German government.
Germany provided Israel with it's fourth submarine in September 2014. The submarine, known as the INS Tanin docked at Haifa Naval Base on September 24 and is the first submarine that Israel is recieving from the new generation of Dolphin submarines. The INS Tanin can stay underwater for significantly longer than the other 3 Dolphin-class submarines that the Israeli military has. A fifth German built submarine, the INS Rahav, arrived in Israel on January 12, 2016.
In January 2016 the German Defense Minister announced that the German military had entered into an agreement to lease 3-5 Heron TP drones from Israel. The German military already uses the Heron TP's predecessor, the Heron 1, in Afghanistan. Leasing the drones was expected to cost the Germans $650 million, with the assumption that they will be deployed in 2018. The agreement was finalized in June 2016, with the German government agreeing to lease 5 Heron TP drones from Israel, at a cost of $644 million.