ISRAEL

Germany and Israel maintain a close partnership based on common interests and shared values. The starting point for this special relationship and Germany’s acknowledgement of historical responsibility was the caesura of the Shoa. The way that the two statesmen Konrad Adenauer and David Ben-Gurion laid the foundation for these relations was described by former Bundestag President Norbert Lammert in a speech before the Knesset in 2015 as a “double stroke of historicalGerman Bundestag 2015: Lammert würdigt deutsch-israelische Freundschaft, https://www.bundestag.de/webarchiv/textarchiv/2015/kw26_lammert_knesset-380042 (16 January 2022). luck”.

Israel’s immense relevance for Germany was expressed by former Chancellor Angela Merkel, who cited the matter of Israel’s security as “part of the German reason of state”. The special relations – and the bond brought about by shared values – take the form of cooperation between the two countries at various national, regional and local levels as well as in the areas of politics, business, civil society, science and culture – and simply in countless encounters between individuals. Furthermore, both countries resolutely stand up to anti-Semitism and xenophobia in Europe and throughout the world. The 1,700th anniversary of documented Jewish life on German soil was celebrated in 2021, marking a milestone in Jewish-German history.

The Middle East conflict between Israelis and Palestinians puts lasting pressure on this partnership, predicated as it is on a world order based on the rule of law and shared values. Berlin demands compliance with the standards of international law and actively advocates for a negotiated solution to the conflict on the basis of the Oslo Accords (two-state solution). But this position lacks majority support in large parts of Israel, a fact that has repeatedly sparked tensions between the two countries, particularly during Benjamin Netanyahu’s years in government. 

Nevertheless, the Merkel era in particular was marked by close and friendly relations – right up to the end. On the Chancellor’s last visit to Israel, acting Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett even called her the “moral compassDie Zeit: Premierminister Bennett nennt Merkel “moralischen Kompass Europas”, 10 October 2021, https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2021-10/israel-angela-merkel-naftali-bennet-besuch-deutschland-europa (16 January 2022). of Europe”. Bennett thus sent a clear signal to her successor to carry on her policies. 

Positive changes are also emerging with regard to relations between Israel and the EU. With his inaugural visit to Brussels in June 2021, Israeli Foreign Minister Jair Lapid showed a willingness to move closer to the EU again. The EU has been faced with Israeli accusations that it does not take sufficient consideration of the country’s interests and security, especially vis-à-vis the Palestinians and violent terrorist groups. Jerusalem is therefore counting on Berlin to exert an influence in Brussels. Germany, for its part, is constantly striving as a partner in the EU to drive forward the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians, while advocating within the framework of international organisations for dealing fairly with the parties to the Middle East conflictMarcel Serr, 2015: Zur Geschichte der deutsch-israelischen Rüstungskooperation, Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, 30 January 2015, https://www.bpb.de/apuz/199900/zur-geschichte-der-ruestungskooperation?p=all (16 January 2022)..

In 2008, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, regular bilateral intergovernmental consultations were launched. This is an instrument that closely links the two countries in diverse working areas.

The existing partnership of values between Germany and Israel is manifested in numerous fields. Both countries are solid democracies and share a commitment to the rule of law and a market economy. They work together closely in the areas of democratic resilience, innovation and digitalisation, education and science, and cyber advances. Moreover, they both advocate for liberal culture and media as an expression of free and pluralistic societies. Germany’s commitment to Israel’s security is reflected by increasing cooperation in this field, especially in the area of high-tech defence projects. Israel is a central pillar of German foreign policy as well as a linchpin for its policy in the region. Germany supports Israel’s security through diplomacy and dialogue formats, with the goal of achieving a regional peace settlement.

The change of government in Israel in 2021 and its signals conveying the desire for rapprochement with Germany and the EU show that new potential for cooperation can be tapped at a high political level. 

In terms of promoting democracy, there is scope for even closer cooperation in the area of the rule of law. And Germany can learn a great deal from Israel when it comes to innovation and digitalisation. Under the catchwords “Big Data” and “Industry 4.0”, a wealth of Israeli expertise is available that Germany would do well to take advantage of. This also applies to Israel’s flourishing start-up culture. In the areas of trade and technology, both sides can benefit from increased cooperation. In addition to the already existing close collaboration in education and science, the field of youth exchange likewise presents interesting opportunities. 

In security terms, Israel remains a constant in German Middle East policy. This is due not least to the considerable congruence of interests between the two states when it comes to containing Iran’s nuclear ambitions – although there seems to be some disagreement on how to achieve that goal.

A values-based foreign policy fundamentally stands for peace, security, stability and sustainable development. With regard to Israel, therefore, the negotiated two-state solution should be upheld and an erosion of the peace process prevented (e.g., through further so-called “cloverleaf” initiatives and the Middle East Quartet, pushing for reforms of the Oslo Accords, struggling for democracy and reforms in the Palestinian territories). As long as no immediate solution is in sight, pragmatic approaches to cooperation – alternative projects that can have a peace-making, equalising and stabilising effect – and active promotion of peace initiatives with regional neighbours should continue. Berlin must define its interests in the region consistently and precisely and take advantage of its international standing to work for peace between Israel and its neighbours. The wait-and-see role of observer adopted for example in the case of the Abraham Accords should in future make way for the role of active and resolute interlocutor and mediator. At the same time, close cooperation with the USA and building further trust between Israel and the EU will remain vital. Israel’s reserved reactions to the Russian invasion of Ukraine show that interests based on realpolitik guide Israeli foreign policy in some areas. Israel relies on extensive security coordination with Russia, which has ground troops in Syria, and has therefore held back on imposing harsh sanctions. 

German foreign policy in the region continues to be dominated by the issue of Iran, while Israel has commented critically on international attempts to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement. The trouble spots in the Middle East will remain, and regional (military) alliances will only increase. Here, Germany would be well advised to step up and assume the “greater responsibility” that has long demanded with a view to conflict management and mediation. In this regard, joint initiatives and new dialogue formats in cooperation with France as a partner in values are another field worth pursuing.

Climate and environmental policy could be an attractive vehicle for Germany when pushing for regional integration. Jordan and Israel already signed a memorandum of understanding in November 2021 (the so-called “Water-Energy Deal”), demonstrating that environmental and climate problems can only be solved through united efforts and that this endeavour can promote peace. As it strives to take the lead in dealing with climate change, Germany can tap into and expand on this potential for regional integration and normalisation.

Political foundations and other German intermediary organisations active in the region should in particular be called into play more consistently in future as complementary instruments of foreign, economic and cultural policy. 

Dr. Beatrice Gorawantschy is the director of the KAS office in Israel.
Philipp Paul Burkhardt is research associate at the KAS office in Israel.